During Kérékou's second period in office, Tawéma was Minister of the Interior from 1998 to February 2005 (Minister of the Interior, Security, and Territorial Administration from 1998 to 2001, and Minister of the Interior, Security, and Decentralization from 2001 to 2005). In February 2004, he was elected as the secretary general of FARD-Alafia, succeeding Jerome Sacca Kina Guezere.
When Kérékou returned to office for his second stint, Tawéma held the position of Minister of the Interior from 1998 to February 2005 (Minister of the Interior, Security, and Territorial Administration from 1998 to 2001, and Minister of the Interior, Security, and Decentralization from 2001 to 2005). Two years later, in February 2004, he was chosen as the chief executive of FARD-Alafia, replacing Jerome Sacca Kina Guezere.