In Benin, Unopposed Legislation, A Bad Sign For Democracy

Beninese are called to the polls Sunday to choose their 83 deputies but, for the first time, no candidate of the opposition is in competition. Human rights NGOs are worried about this exclusion.

It is a country in West Africa renowned for its good respect for democratic principles. The Benin nevertheless organizes Sunday, April 28 parliamentary elections without opposition candidate.

In the morning, the streets of Cotonou, the economic capital of this small country in West Africa, were particularly calm and all markets and shops were closed, AFP journalists said.

On Twitter, Internet users have denounced the blocking of social networks using the hashtag #BeninShutDown.

In polling stations, open since 7 hours, the affluence was very shy. "The populations do not go out, but it is because of the Sunday cults," justified Jacques Noutais, representative of the Cena (Electoral Commission) in Ze, about thirty kilometers from Cotonou.

But some netizens give another analysis of the situation.

Only two political parties - belonging to the presidential camp - have been authorized by the Electoral Commission to present candidates for the elections. All opposition lists are excluded.

A decision that led to a protest movement harshly repressed. Since February, any social movement or demonstration of opposition has been banned and dispersed by tear gas.

"Prohibiting peaceful protests and arresting people who denounce the exclusion of opposition parties will only increase political unrest," Amnesty International warned on Friday .

The EU, "embarrassed", did not comment, but decided to suspend its observer delegation last week. One way to signify that it does not "lend itself to the game", entrusted to AFP a foreign observer.

Reform of the electoral code

The new electoral code voted by Parliament in late 2018 aims to clean up the multitude of registered parties: nearly 250 for a country of 12 million inhabitants and 5 million registered voters.

Parties had to have representations throughout the territory, eliminating the smallest of them and forcing them to alliances. The major opposition parties did not manage to submit in time all the documents made mandatory by the new law.

"The aim of the reforms has never been to prevent people from going to the election, and the lists have fallen by themselves," says presidential communications advisor Wilfried Houngbedji.

Beninese expected the presidency to postpone the vote so that the opposition could be ready for the vote. Several local civic organizations have withdrawn their observers to denounce its legitimacy.