Romuald Wadagni

About

Kossi Mbueke Romuald Wadagni (born 20 June 1976) is a Beninese politician and businessman who has served as the ninth president of Benin since 2026. Prior to that, he served as Minister of Economy and Finance under President Patrice Talon from 2016 to 2026, and worked for the consulting firm Deloitte prior to entering politics.

== Early life and education ==
Kossi Mbueke Romuald Wadagni was born in Lokossa on 20 June 1976, the eldest of five children. His father, Nestor Wadagni, a statistician and economist with a degree from ENSAE, had a career in the Beninese civil service before writing a thesis in fundamental mathematics after his retirement. From an early age, he took an interest in manual work and trained himself in bricklaying and mechanics.
After obtaining a scientific baccalauréat in Benin, Wadagni continued his studies in France. From 1995 to 1999, he studied at the École supérieure des affaires de Grenoble (ESA) (now Institut d’administration des entreprises de Grenoble) where he obtained a master’s degree in finance, graduating top of his class. During his studies in Grenoble, he met a partner from Deloitte who identified his potential and recruited him into the consulting…