10 MAY 2019 / By Ella Jeannine Abatan
At least two dead, several wounded – this is the official human toll of the violence that occurred after Benin’s contested legislative elections of 28 April when police fired live ammunition at protesters. The material damage incurred during rioting and arson is yet to be tallied.
The political deadlock continues. At the heart of the crisis is a recent institutional reform that prevented all opposition parties from participating in the polls. Their absence made the election result a foregone conclusion. While opposition parties demand new all-inclusive elections, the government maintains that ” the electoral process was conducted in accordance with the law, (and) will follow its course till the end.”
The short-term challenge is to maintain peace and stability in Benin. Beyond that, the major hurdle is to consolidate democratic gains in the country. On 2 May, the Constitutional Court announced a voter turnout rate of 27.12% – the lowest ever recorded. Two factors account for this.
Read more at: https://issafrica.org/iss-today/benin-tests-the-limits-of-democracy
