Thomas Boni Yayi

Thomas Boni Yayi is a former president of Benin, having served two terms from 2006 to 2016. A trained economist, Yayi previously worked for the African Development Bank and became a prominent political figure after leading a successful campaign against the incumbent president in 2006. His tenure was marked by efforts to improve governance and economic development, but he faced criticism for alleged authoritarian tendencies, particularly in his later years in office. Yayi attempted to run for a third term in 2021 but was barred from participating in the election, leading to significant political tension in the country.