Electoral violence and protests fill several cities across Benin as the country’s presidential election is fast approaching
GHRTV2
Protests against the current administration of President Talon begun on 6 April 2021 in Benin. In several cities across Benin, the protests quickly escalated as military troops arrived on Thursday, 8 April 2021, to stabilize the situation. The presidential elections will be held on 11 April 2021. Protesters believe that the country that was once a ‘vibrant multi-party democracy’ spiraled into authoritarianism after President Talon was first elected in 2016. In the cities of Savè and Bantè, the violence between the demonstrators and the army has escalated. The city mayor of Savè, Mr. Denis Obachabi, reported that a protester died on 8 April 2021. In Bantè, two people have been killed in the middle of the protests. According to Mayor Obachabi, large numbers of the army arrived on 8 April, lifted barricades, and kept a ‘calm atmosphere’ in the city. The army fired tear gas to scatter the protesters, and several detonations were heard as the military fired in the air from an armored vehicle. Mayor Obachabi announced a meeting with the police and the army to find a peaceful way to end the protests, as he does not want ‘blood to flow more in his city’.
Link: https://lavraieinfo.com/
