Patrice Guillaume Athanase Talon, born on May 1, 1958, in Benin, is a prominent businessman and politician who has been serving as the President of Benin since April 6, 2016. Before entering politics, Talon built significant wealth in the cotton industry, earning the nickname "King of Cotton" due to his extensive involvement in cotton production and trade across West Africa. He also managed important roles such as overseeing imports at the Port of Cotonou and was a financial backer for presidential campaigns prior to his own political run. Talon ran as an independent candidate in the 2016 presidential election. Although he placed second in the first round, he won the runoff with 65% of the vote. His presidency has focused on economic reforms, modernization of infrastructure, and improving governance efficiency. One of his key initiatives was an attempt to amend the constitution to limit presidents to a single five-year term, aiming to prevent prolonged incumbency, though this reform did not pass the National Assembly. He was re-elected for a second term in 2021 amid some controversy and allegations of electoral manipulation. Internationally, Talon has sought to strengthen Benin's economic position and maintain diplomatic relations, including support for democratic governance in neighboring countries. For example, he publicly condemned the 2023 military coup in Niger and supported the ousted president there. In 2024, Benin’s government foiled a planned coup against Talon, leading to arrests and long prison sentences for those involved. Talon's leadership blends business acumen with political authority, focusing on transforming Benin into a key economic hub in West Africa while navigating internal political challenges and regional dynamics[1][2][3][4][6].