Patrice Talon Sworn In As Benin President

Businessman Patrice Talon was sworn in as Benin's new president at the Charles de Gaulle stadium in the capital Porto-Novo ©Pius Utomi Ekpei (AFP)

Businessman Patrice Talon was sworn in as Benin's new president Wednesday after winning last month's elections in the tiny West African country.

AFP report continues:

The wealthy 57-year-old was sworn in at the Charles de Gaulle stadium in the capital Porto-Novo.

He had met earlier Wednesday with outgoing head of state Thomas Boni Yayi, who stepped down after two terms in office, at the Presidential Palace in the economic hub Cotonou.

In a show of goodwill, the former political rivals hugged each other after the meeting.

Talon, dubbed the "King of Cotton", bankrolled Boni Yayi's successful 2006 and 2011 election campaigns.

But their relationship deteriorated and in 2012 Talon, who was abroad at the time, was accused of masterminding an alleged plot to poison Yayi. He only returned last October after receiving a presidential pardon.

Talon gave a short inauguration speech that focused on his popular campaign promise to change the constitution so Benin presidents serve just one term.

"With my term I will exercise state power with dignity and simplicity," Talon said.

"I will serve as the president with humility, selflessness and sacrifice for the welfare of all," he added.

"I will work to make my term an instrument of change for major policy and institutional reforms."

Talon handily won the presidential election in March with 65.37% of the vote against 34.63% for the ruling party's candidate, Franco-Beninese businessman Lionel Zinsou.

Zinsou was seen as the frontrunner with the support of most lawmakers in parliament, but his popularity was dented by Talon who billed himself as the authentic Beninese candidate and repeatedly attacked Zinsou's dual French nationality.

The vote was hailed as a victory for democracy in a continent where leaders sometimes cling to power for far longer than their constitutional mandate.