Benin president Patrice Talon underwent surgery while in Paris

Benin’s president Patrice Talon who returned home on Sunday, is said to have undergone two successful surgical operations during his recent visit to Paris.

According to a statement released by the presidency on Monday, one procedure was due to doctors finding a lesion in his prostate while the second operation was in his digestive system.

During his last health check, a lesion was found at an early stage in his prostate, the president’s office said but the operation allowed him to recover “without the use of chemotherapy or radiation.”

The statement however made no mention of the word cancer.

Talon “has completely recovered” and “is fully exercising his constitutional duties,” according to his office, which said an ordinary cabinet meeting is scheduled for Wednesday.

The admission comes weeks after Talon’s absence, which lasted nearly a month, had been a hot topic in the tiny West African nation, prompting the government to deny rumours that he was ill.

The statement is a rare example of an African leader publicly revealing health details while his office said it was important for the 59-year-old president to inform his fellow countrymen about his health status.