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In 2004, one year after the parliamentary elections and two years before the presidential elections in 2006, no major political challenge faced Benin, even if the succession to President Mathieu Kérékou was still on the agenda. Relations between executive and judiciary, which gave rise to mutual criticism, were still very poor. Relations with Nigeria remained one of the main features of foreign affairs and socioeconomic developments. The government maintained macroeconomic stability, but public sector workers went on strike at the end of the year. This crisis illustrated that Beninese stability remained weak in some degree.
The political year was dominated by the presidential election, the fourth since the beginning of the new democratic regime in 1990. The peaceful and free electoral process reinforced the pluralism of political life and the stability of the regime. The success of Yayi Boni, a newcomer who had never been involved in politics, symptomised a widespread desire for change. It also saw the renewal of political actors, a new will to fight against impunity for people suspected of embezzlement and a diplomatic activism involving presidential visits to several countries. Benin continued to face economic difficulties as well as increasingly pronounced social inequalities.
Political life was largely dominated by the preparations for the presidential election scheduled for March 2006. If President Kérékou's decision not to amend the constitution and to leave the presidency was welcomed, the electoral process had made only slow progress by the end of the year, and the government's willingness to effectively organise the election was uncertain.