Benin had been among the most stable democracies in sub-Saharan Africa, but President Patrice Talon began using the justice system to attack his political opponents after taking office in 2016, and electoral rules and a crackdown on his political opponents enabled him to consolidate his power in 2021. Deadly police violence at political protests, arrests of activists, and other restrictions on civil liberties have become increasingly problematic in recent years, though the 2023 electoral period was marked by less violence and somewhat more opposition participation.
In 2023, the progovernment Republican Bloc (BR) and Progressive Union for Renewal (UPR) won a supermajority in the January legislative elections. The opposition Democrats won 28 seats. The polling was calm and included more opposition involvement than the 2019 election, which was only contested by progovernment parties.
In August, the country’s communications-sector regulator suspended the activities of La Gazette du Golf, a media company, over its outlets’ coverage of the July coup d’état in Niger.
Armed violence increased during the year, with the Group for the Support for Islam and Muslims (JNIM) and Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) militant groups maintaining significant activity in the north. In May, for example, at least 15 civilians were killed and another 12 were kidnapped in the commune of Kérou by JNIM fighters.
The
president is elected by popular vote for up to two five-year terms and serves
as both the chief of state and head of government. In 2021, Patrice Talon won
reelection with 86 percent of the vote. The authorities had disqualified,
arrested, or forced into exile the major opposition candidates, leaving only
two opponents who posed no significant competition. Elected members of
progovernment parties had veto power over which candidates qualified for the
ballot, and some opposition parties boycotted the election. Security forces
responded to peaceful protests with lethal means, leading to at least five
deaths. Official turnout was 50 percent, a historic low for the country’s
multiparty presidential contests; civil society groups estimated turnout at 26
percent. Observers described election day as “calm” and “orderly.”
Constitutional amendments created the largely ceremonial position of vice president in 2019. Mariam Chabi Talata, Talon’s running mate in 2021, became the first to hold the office.
Delegates to the 109-member, unicameral National Assembly serve four-year terms and are elected by proportional representation. In the January 2023 election, seven parties, including three opposition parties, contested the election, an improvement from 2019 when only two progovernment parties were allowed. The BR and the UPR won 81 seats. The remaining 28 were won by the main opposition party, the Democrats.
In 2021, the National Assembly adopted constitutional amendments, including provisions imposing three-term limits on legislators, expanding the body from 83 to 109 seats, and extending terms to five years beginning in 2026 to align them with those of the president.
Elections are conducted by the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA), which has a five-year mandate and is dominated by Talon appointees and allies. Following the passage of a restrictive electoral law in 2018, the Constitutional Court ruled that parties must obtain a “certificate of conformity” from the Interior Ministry. The disqualifications of opposition parties in the 2019 legislative and 2020 local elections empowered members of Talon’s party to disqualify all but two candidates for the 2021 presidential election, due to a 2019 amendment requiring presidential candidates to be endorsed by 10 percent of mayors and members of the National Assembly.
Politics have generally been free from military interference. The role of personal wealth in politics has increased in recent years, with higher campaign costs and clientelist structures boosting the careers of wealthier politicians. Talon developed his private businesses in part by financing the campaigns of Boni Yayi and other elites and then securing lucrative contracts. After becoming president, Talon allegedly attempted to bribe lawmakers while working to secure passage of constitutional amendments.
https://freedomhouse.org/country/benin/freedom-world/2024
Comments
Political corruption by the Democrats by controlling those who count the votes is a problem.
Benin
has 25% arable land, but a Trade Deficit of $4.42B. Exports include raw cotton,
some gold and food
Since December 2021, Benin has suffered an increasing number of armed conflicts linked to violent external extremist groups. Benin imports rice and poultry meat. With 25% Arable Land, they should produce what they consume.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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