Benin appoints new minister for higher education and research

Sèdami Romarique Mèdégan Fagla was appointed Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Benin by Romuald Wadagni, the new President of Benin, on 24/05/2026.

She has been acting Minister-Advisor for Secondary, Higher and Scientific Research Education since December 2024 and replaces Benjamin Hounkpatin, who had been serving as interim minister since 20/02/2026.

Dr Fagla, born in 1978 and a native of Cotonou, the largest city in Benin, holds a doctorate in organic chemistry, obtained in 2005 from Paris-XII University. Her dissertation focused on organic reactions induced by lanthanides, also known as rare earth elements. She also holds a master's degree in Information and Technology Management from Paris Dauphine University. Alongside her consulting work for various research laboratories, she is a CAMES lecturer at the University of Abomey-Calavi. CAMES is the African and Malagasy Council for Higher Education. It coordinates higher education and research systems in francophone Africa.

She entered the Beninese parliament in May 2019, representing the 15^th electoral…