The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has appointed former Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as head of its Election Observation Mission (EOM) to the Republic of Benin, ahead of that country’s presidential election scheduled for April 12, 2026.
The appointment was conveyed by ECOWAS Commission President Dr Omar Alieu Touray, and the mission is set to be deployed from April 7 to 15, 2026, operating under the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance (2001), which provides the normative framework for election observation across the region.
The mission comprises 120 members and will be supported by a technical team led by ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah. The team will observe all key phases of the process, from campaign activities through election day to the post-election period, and will engage government institutions, political parties, civil society organisations, the media, and development partners.
ECOWAS said the appointment of Akufo-Addo reflects the bloc’s practice of drawing on experienced leaders to anchor credible and transparent elections in member states, and reiterated its call on all stakeholders in Benin to uphold peace, tolerance, and the rule of law.
The election takes place in a politically charged environment shaped by constitutional reforms, a significant shift in the partisan landscape, and a foiled military coup in December 2025. Some eight million voters, registered by Benin’s Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA) out of an estimated population of 15 million, will choose a successor to outgoing President Patrice Talon, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term. The ruling coalition’s candidate is Finance and Economy Minister Romuald Wadagni, while the opposition is represented by Paul Hounkpè.
ECOWAS has maintained a sustained observation presence in Benin, having deployed a long-term observation mission from March 22, drawing 15 election experts from member states who will remain in the country until April 18. The experts cover fields including constitutional law, electoral operations, media, conflict prevention, gender, and security. A pre-election fact-finding mission was also carried out from January 7 to 17, 2026.
The assignment marks the second consecutive international election observation role for Akufo-Addo within weeks. Earlier this month, the African Union (AU) appointed him to lead its observation mission for the Republic of the Congo’s presidential election on March 15, 2026.
