Benin president returns to Paris for 'routine' checks after surgeries

Benin’s President Patrice Talon has returned to France less than two weeks after he returned after undergoing two surgeries in Paris.

The presidency confirmed that the 59-year-old Talon was going for a ‘routine’ medical check up following his operations. The two operations were on his prostate and digestive system the presidency said earlier this month.

Presidential spokesperson, Wilfried Houngbedji is quoted by the AFP news agency as saying, the President told his cabinet that he had ‘‘an appointment with doctors for a routine check following his operation.’‘

The exact date of his return was, however, not communicated. Talon left the west African country to France in May this year and returned on June 18. His office said upon his return that he had ‘‘completely recovered” and “is fully exercising his constitutional duties.”

Talon, a successful cotton businessman was elected President of Benin in March 2016. He took over from Thomas Yayi-Boni who had served his constitutionally mandated two terms. Talon defeated the then Prime Minister, Lionel Zinsou, in second round of votes after both men failed to win in the first round.

Talon joins a list of African leaders who have recently traveled to Europe seeking medical attention. Nigeria’s Muhammadu Buhari is still in the United Kingdom, Angola’s Jose Eduardo dos Santos was in Spain for check up.

Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe has been to Singapore twice since the start of 2017 for eye checks according to the government. The opposition however claim the 93-year-old is suffering from cancer, a claim the government vehemently denies.