The opposition party that lost Benin's presidential election last month announced Saturday that it was joining the ruling majority, two weeks before the inauguration of President-elect Romuald Wadagni.
The Cauris Forces for an Emerging Benin (FCBE), considered a moderate party, was the only opposition group to run in the elections against the outgoing majority.
Paul Hounkpe, an FCBE candidate who has since left the party, received 5.95% of the vote, making Wadagni the clear winner.
The country's main opposition force, the Democratic Party, was excluded from the presidential race after failing to gain sufficient support.
In Benin, the opposition has weakened in recent years, although it was previously considered a beacon of democracy in West Africa.
After ten years in opposition, the FCBE announced on Saturday that it was joining the presidential bloc, made up of the Progressive Union for Renewal (UPR) and the Republican Bloc (BR).
FCBE leaders justified this decision by citing the result of the presidential election and their defeat in the legislative elections, where they did not win any seats.
They also declared that they wanted to contribute "to the development of the country".
"The people have made their choice, and this choice binds us", said Yaya Garba, one of the party leaders.
The leaders also congratulated outgoing President Patrice Talon for his two mandates and for the "serene" conduct of the elections.
Wadagni's inauguration is scheduled for May 24.
Before the presidential election of April 12, the ruling camp had won all the seats in the legislative and municipal elections.
In recent years, Talon has implemented reforms that he said were aimed at cleaning up political life, but made it more difficult for the opposition to gain power.
Several opposition figures were arrested and, in some cases, sentenced to long prison terms.
