Angry protesters in Benin engaged in a big fight with the army on Thursday, 2 May, after terrible violence erupted in the country surrounding its recent parliamentary elections, which were conducted without even a single opposition contesting candidate.
Hours after the announcement of the poll results, showing a record low voter turnout on 28 April, a huge protest erupted all across Benin specially in Cotonou. Heavy security forces were deployed across Cotonou, the economic capital of Benin, on 2 May to control the agitated crowd.
Thousands of supporters of Boni Yayi, former president of Benin, who initially called for nationwide protests for boycott of ballot system, took to the streets of Cotonou, raising slogans against current President Patrice Talon.
The unrest was further triggered by the electoral commission’s whimsical decision to restrict the opposition parties from contesting in the latest election, because they could not complete the strict criteria proposed under a newly-formed election law for standing candidates, reported by Al Jazeera.
As per a report in Africanews, protesters have shut down businesses and attacked several government buildings with stones, all the while chanting anti-government slogans. The police, in turn, resorted to tear gas to break up crowds. The authorities even suspended the internet connection on the day of the election to maintain peace.
The Tense Relationship Between Yayi and Talon
Patrice Talon and Boni Yayi have always had a very bitter relationship. In 2012, Boni Yayi accused Talon, a well known business tycoon, of trying to kill him by poisoning him.
In the 2016 general election, Talon defeated Yayi's chosen successor after Yayi was asked to step down by the law of term limits, after his completion of 10 years in position.
Record Low Voter Turnout
Only 22.99 percent among total voters cast their votes this election, according to preliminary results.
Turnout has never been this less previously. It never dropped below 50 percent since the country's historical transition to democracy back in 1990.
During the election period, both Boni Yayi and Nicephore Soglo, the two former president, raised their voices against the current government and asked their supporters to boycott the election.
(With inputs from Aljazeera, Africanews)
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