A few days ago, the National Union of Benin party (UN-Benin) sacrificed to tradition. Gathered around President Edgard Mathias Célestin Soukpon, members of the party's political bureau expressed good New Year wishes to each other 2024. On this occasion, the first party official was kind enough to answer our questions. From the party's legitimate political ambitions to the current governance of our country, through the categorical refusal of President Patrice Talon to pardon Reckya Madougou, Joël Aïvo and others, the celebration of the first edition of “Vodun Days” and other subjects, nothing has been hidden. Without detour and without tongue in cheek, he addressed the real burning questions of national news in Benin.
How is the UN-Benin party that you currently chair? ?
Hello Mr. Journalist. Thank you for wanting to take my opinion on the hot topics of national political news. But before, allow me to express my best wishes for robust health, of joy, peace and prosperity to all journalists and to all the Beninese people. To answer your question, I would say that the National Union of Benin party (UN-Benin) is doing well. Even if I must admit that it is in the process of being formalized at the Ministry of the Interior. A procedure which is very well underway. I recall that the Constitutive Congress of the party was held on 15 July 2023 in Dassa-Zoumè, et que le dossier de déclaration administrative est introduit par ses membres fondateurs-mandataires au ministère de l’intérieur. Comme toute formation politique, your party aims to conquer and exercise state power for a better Benin, united and prosperous. How to get there given the political forces already present on the ground ?
To adhere to the Charter of political parties, the main objective of any political party is the conquest and exercise of state power. It’s ours too at UN-Benin. And it is already in 2026, despite his young age. Especially since those who formed it are political dinosaurs. I would like to say that the presence of the political parties in power and that of the opposition, which all have means, does not scare us.. We know each other and what matters, he's the thinking head. A good head for strategic and tactical analyzes and reflections. Afterwards, the means will follow.
UN-Benin defines itself as a social-democratic party. What are your connections with the powers that be? ?
UN-Benin is a party of the Center, claiming to be social democracy. UN-Benin does not a priori have any connection with the power of rupture and new beginnings. For example on human rights issues, there are many aspects on which our points of view diverge from those of those in power. In particular public freedoms. Car, it is important to be able to freely express your opinion on the state of governance in general without being worried, without fear or being forced into exile. UN-Benin wishes that, if the citizen has committed management errors punishable by the Statutes of State Civil Servants, or has committed offenses punishable by the penal code, that he be accused and judged. And not take advantage of his situation, and at the slightest disobedience, le déstabiliser… Autrement dit, UN-Benin has no connection with the power in place.
What assessment do you make of the current governance in Benin? ?
No governance is perfect. The current one has worked a lot especially to beautify our country, to improve the daily life of the Beninese a little bit. More, it has concentrated common wealth in the hands of a minority by invading all vital sectors of our country’s economy. The great people suffer and bend under the weight of misery and indigence. But in order to maintain power, current governance has especially failed in the area of preserving and safeguarding human rights.
Reckya Madougou and Joël Aïvo are in prison respectively for, among other accusations, terrorism and money laundering. The Head of State clearly opposed a presidential pardon in their favor. Do you understand this position ?
The Head of State refused the presidential pardon to our compatriots Reckya Madougou and Joël Aïvo for purely political reasons. We are heading towards major elections. These are already considered victims of the Talon regime. The people or a large part of them do not want to know if they are at fault or not. It is people in this category who are often favored by voters to punish those or those who are seen as the “bad guy”. Boni Yayi paid the price, et c’est Patrice Talon qui a bénéficié de ce phénomène… Sinon, I think that the Head of State could be in favor of a solution leading to forgiveness and grace. Car, we must cultivate forgiveness.
To see your political journey, we see that you have come a long way. So, What still makes you run? ?
Indeed, given our political journey, many may not understand why we still run, or why we don't hang up. eh yes, it is our passion for the destiny of our country. Our love for the homeland, our love for Benin and its people. It’s like one of the sacred formulas of marriage. It's until death do us part. It is our marriage with Benin and our people. Notre ambition est de réussir le parti politique du “Vivre ensemble”, bring our people together around their development, participatory democracy. Etc.
Soon the electoral consultations in Benin. What are your party's ambitions and its real chances of success? ?
UN-Benin will be in the general elections of 2026. Alone or in a political network. Our ambition is to present a neutral candidate, distinct from the two poles which compete for power through the personalities of Patrice Talon and Boni Yayi. Because with them, we roughly retain that tightness, trampling, rejection, settlement of accounts. Useless quarrels that make the people suffer. Our ambition at UN-Benin is to convince our compatriots to dismiss these two rival camps and bring out a centrist candidate with the best unifying profile with the Fear of God, love of neighbor and respect for the common heritage. And all this must go through an ideal relational network, very patriotic and endowed with wisdom, rigor in the management of public affairs. He must be concerned about a better quality of life for the citizen, avoir une meilleure connaissance du Bénin et de son peuple. Ce candidat centriste doit être capable de faire la synthèse des différentes gestions au sommet de notre pays, learn the best lessons, mettre en jeu son savoir et savoir-faire pour rendre heureux son peuple. Nous travaillons déjà à ce profil, and very soon, this personality will be proposed to the Beninese people. Our group has divine favor. We at UN-Benin have the best chance of winning the general elections of 2026 with our partners, the first of which are Talon and Yayi. To their rivalry, we will prefer a centrist candidate in the name of peace for better management of our country.
What do you think of the probable revision of the constitution and the various meetings of the Head of State with the leaders of political parties and republican institutions? ?
On the subject of the revision of the Constitution, our party has nothing to fear. Car, a new revision of our Fundamental Law can never at this moment call into question the fundamentals of our Constitution. In particular the limitation of mandates. Therefore, I thank President Talon for ensuring that, during the constitutional revision of 2018, le risque de briguer un 3e mandat soit écarté par la disposition selon laquelle “Nul ne peut exercer de sa vie plus de deux mandats présidentiels…”. Since this debate has been heated, the political office of our party estimated that, if constitutional provisions risk blocking the smooth running of general elections in 2026, it's necessary, by consensus of the entire political class, review these provisions. Above all, we must not undertake any retouching or rereading of the constitution on the sly as was the case in 2019. I then understand the reasons for these consultations undertaken by the President of the Republic. And this is the spirit of consensus that I spoke about earlier.
You are also a pastor and preach the word of God. Do you think politics and religion go well together? ?
I am a servant of the living God. I'm not religious. And God whom I serve tells me in the Bible (psalms 124) that the earth and everything it contains and contains belongs to him. Me, I am his declared child. So, I am already predestined and best placed to manage his heritage, it being understood that politics, c’est simplement la gestion de la Cité… Je peux être serviteur de Dieu et homme politique. I'm not religious.
On the occasion of the “Vodun Days” coupled with the edition 2024 of the traditional religions festival, FA, once more, is consulted. Oddly this time, there have been various interpretations. Your opinion on the question ?
On the occasion of the “Vodun days” the Fâ consulted was interpreted variously. It's rare ! My opinion is that he allowed himself to be infiltrated by politicians and that is dangerous. he is no longer a compass, a considerate. He contributes to the perdition of those who believe in him.
Today, all Beninese people aspire to well-being and peace. According to you, what to do to get there ?
It's normal ! For UN-Benin, aspiring to peace and well-being must be a permanent quest of our people. To the National Unity Party of Benin, the solution is to now avoid bringing to power all those who go against the will and desire of the people who aspire to peace and well-being. Car, life has a duration and suffering instead of living happily because of the leaders we have at the head of our country is the worst misfortune that happens to us, and that we must avoid from now on.
So, the solution is that in 2026 for the general elections, we must elect a centrist candidate as leader of our country instead of candidates from dangerously rival camps. By settling accounts, they will never be able to get along. And the main victim of their selfish quarrel remains the people. It's up to us to take our destiny into our own hands. And I absolutely believe it.
Who is Edgard Soukpon really? ?
My name as you say so well is Soukpon Célestin Mathias Edgard. I can summarize my personality in three points. I would say that I am a public services administrator, teacher-researcher and political consultant. Ensuite, I define myself as a minister of Jesus Christ for the Gospel of God. Finally, I am a convinced activist and defender of human rights (civic values, public freedoms, integral and participatory democracy). And above all Man as the first actor. That is to say the Alpha and Omega of development. Long live Benin. Long live the UN-Benin party. It is never without God...
Comments collected by Pascal HOUNKPATIN