With our correspondent in Cotonou, Jean-Luc Aplogan

Patrice Talon was one of the major architects of Boni Yayi's rise to power. Six years later, the two accomplices become enemies. Since then things have not improved. After the non-inclusive 2019 legislative elections, the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) attempted in vain to arrange a direct meeting between the two.

While opponents describe his tour as a pre-campaign, Patrice Talon declared the following about his predecessor: "Who does not know that President Boni Yayi and I are like younger brother and older brother? What happened caused us to lose that complicit bond. My prayer is that this can truly be in the past. I would like to entrust this mission to you, the crowned heads, the wise men of Parakou, so that we can see each other again together as soon as possible."

No telephone contact...

No response yet from Boni Yayi to this outstretched hand. On the other hand, his lieutenants have spoken. They formulate several preconditions, including among others the return of exiles and the convening of national dialogue.

According to our information, to date there has been no telephone contact between the two men, nor have mediators been designated or mediators working in the shadows.

The head of state, continuing in the register of reducing tensions, suggested that "the presidential elections of April 11, 2021 will see the participation of everyone. If it happens this way our elections in Benin will once again be moments of celebration and we will have won the bet on political reforms".