APA – Cotonou (Benin) – The unceremonious departure of Severin Maxime Quenum from the government has been the subject of a debate in Benin in recent days.
Quenum ceased to be a member of the Beninese government after the axe fell on President Patrice Talon’s personal lawyer during a minor cabinet reshuffle on Monday evening.
Two other ministers also left, while two new faces joined the cabinet.
On April 12, social media and several Beninese media announced Quenum’s dismissal as Minister of Justice and Legislation.
A few days later, government spokesman Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji denied this, prompting speculation.
During a joint press conference with visiting Rwandan President Paul Kagame last Saturday, President Talon himself rejected reports suggesting the dismissal of Mr. Quenum.
“As I speak to you, Minister Quenum is still the Minister of Justice. It may change tomorrow, it may change tonight, but for now he is the Minister of Justice,” the Beninese leader said.
However, on the evening of April 17, Me Quenum’s departure was finally confirmed on national television during the announcement of a new cabinet.
He was replaced by Me Yvon Detchenou, another lawyer and former President of Benin’s Bar Association.
Mr. Quenum had been in office since May 2018.
Like him, two other ministers have been removed.
The Minister of Energy, Jean Claude Donan Houssou, appointed in April 2016 after Patrice Talon came to power, has been dismissed and his ministry has been removed from the government’s organisational chart.
President Talon has transferred the responsibilities of his ministry to the Ministry of Water and Mines lead by Sam Seidou Adambi.
He will work with a Secretary of State for Energy.
This first Secretary of State in Patrice Talon’s government will be Edouard Dahome, coordinator of the strategic cell for the development of the electricity sector at the Presidency.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, headed by HervéeYves Hehomey, has also disappeared from the government structure.
Didier Jose Tonato inherited some of his responsibilities and becomes Minister of the Environment, Sustainable Development and Transport.
This cabinet, the third of the Talon era is more streamlined, with 22 ministers compared to the previous 23.
Five posts are being occupied by women.
RK/ac/lb/as/APA