Benin counts ballots after 'quiet' parliamentary vote
Electoral officials in the Republic of Benin were counting ballots on Tuesday in a parliamentary vote seen as a key test of democracy in the West African state.
Final results of Sunday's vote, which observers from the ECOWAS regional bloc hailed as peaceful and calm, are expected by the end of the week.
Opposition parties participated for the first time since President Patrice Talon came to power.
Talon, a cotton magnate first elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2021, promoted political and economic development but, say critics, at the cost of stifling political culture in the past dynamics of Benin.< /p>
Four years ago, opposition parties were banned from taking part in a general election due to tougher electoral rules, resulting in a parliament dominated by Talon supporters.
Most of Talon's main opponents were also imprisoned or forced into exile.
The 2019 vote was marred by deadly clashes in an opposition stronghold, historic low turnout and an internet blackout.
6.6 million Beninese were eligible to go to the polls on Sunday to elect the 109 deputies for a three-year term.
"Compilations are underway and before the end of the week we should have the voting trends," said a source in the country's CENA electoral authority.
Monday afternoon, the last ballot boxes had been handed over to the electoral commission.
"The election campaign took place in a calm and peaceful environment," said the observation mission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) .
The poll, he added, was well organized across the country and in accordance with Benin and ECOWAS standards.
Opposition leaders, who hope their parties win seats in parliament ahead of the 2026 presidential elections, have welcomed the participation of their supporters.
"Our people have spoken out unequivocally for the restoration of democracy and freedom of choice and expression," imprisoned opposition leader Reckya Madougou said in a press release published online.
In December 2021, Madougou was sentenced to 20 years in prison for terrorism, while Joel Aivo - another opposition leader and academic - was jailed for 10 years for alleged conspiracy against state authority.
Both were tried by a special tribunal dealing with terrorism and economic crimes, known as CRIET. Critics say the tribunal, created by Talon's government in 2016, has been used to suppress opponents.
The legislative vote took place as Benin and other coastal countries of the Gulf of Guinea, Ghana, Togo and Côte d'Ivoire, face a growing threat of jihadist violence spilling over from their northern borders with the Sahel.
AFP
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Electoral officials in the Republic of Benin were counting ballots on Tuesday in a parliamentary vote seen as a key test of democracy in the West African state.
Final results of Sunday's vote, which observers from the ECOWAS regional bloc hailed as peaceful and calm, are expected by the end of the week.
Opposition parties participated for the first time since President Patrice Talon came to power.
Talon, a cotton magnate first elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2021, promoted political and economic development but, say critics, at the cost of stifling political culture in the past dynamics of Benin.< /p>
Four years ago, opposition parties were banned from taking part in a general election due to tougher electoral rules, resulting in a parliament dominated by Talon supporters.
Most of Talon's main opponents were also imprisoned or forced into exile.
The 2019 vote was marred by deadly clashes in an opposition stronghold, historic low turnout and an internet blackout.
6.6 million Beninese were eligible to go to the polls on Sunday to elect the 109 deputies for a three-year term.
"Compilations are underway and before the end of the week we should have the voting trends," said a source in the country's CENA electoral authority.
Monday afternoon, the last ballot boxes had been handed over to the electoral commission.
"The election campaign took place in a calm and peaceful environment," said the observation mission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) .
The poll, he added, was well organized across the country and in accordance with Benin and ECOWAS standards.
Opposition leaders, who hope their parties win seats in parliament ahead of the 2026 presidential elections, have welcomed the participation of their supporters.
"Our people have spoken out unequivocally for the restoration of democracy and freedom of choice and expression," imprisoned opposition leader Reckya Madougou said in a press release published online.
In December 2021, Madougou was sentenced to 20 years in prison for terrorism, while Joel Aivo - another opposition leader and academic - was jailed for 10 years for alleged conspiracy against state authority.
Both were tried by a special tribunal dealing with terrorism and economic crimes, known as CRIET. Critics say the tribunal, created by Talon's government in 2016, has been used to suppress opponents.
The legislative vote took place as Benin and other coastal countries of the Gulf of Guinea, Ghana, Togo and Côte d'Ivoire, face a growing threat of jihadist violence spilling over from their northern borders with the Sahel.
AFP
Please share this story:
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