The people of Benin took to the streets for the second consecutive day on Thursday calling on President Patrice Talon, who was elected in 2016, to organize new elections or resign after violence broke out following controversial parliamentary polls held without a single opposition candidate.
The protests started just a few hours after the announcement of the initial results of Sunday’s parliamentary elections. Benin’s legislative election was held without a single opposition candidate after the electoral authorities ruled last month that only two parties both loyal to President Patrice Talon met the requirements and were found eligible to take part in the elections. The main opposition parties were barred from fielding candidates due to tough new eligibility rules.
Supporters of former president Boni Yayi, who led calls for a boycott of the ballot, erected makeshift barriers of burning tyres and chanted slogans against President Talon.
The police and soldiers had to fire bullets on the protestors to disperse the crowd. At least one protester was killed by the firing of live ammunition. A woman reportedly died on Thursday after she was wounded in Wednesday’s protests. Medical sources said another man was brought to the hospital with gunshots at his back.
Meanwhile, the United Nations called out the government of Benin to exercise restraint after security forces used firearms to disperse crowds and seek for solution to the ongoing crisis through dialogue.
“We note with concern the ongoing tensions and unrest, resulting in the destruction of property and high-handed response from the security forces,” Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, noted in an official email, reported Bloomberg. “We call on all Beninese stakeholders to exercise maximum restraint and to seek solutions to their differences through dialogue.”
The election saw a record low turnout just under 23 percent. Turnout has not been below 50 percent since Benin’s transition to democracy in 1990.
