Beninese President Patrice Talon was heading this Sunday towards an expected re-election, at the end of a voting day marked by an apparently low turnout, after the call of the main opponents to boycott a ballot that she considers locked.
Patrice Talon, who is aiming for a victory "
by KO
", is accused of having engaged this small pioneer country of democracy in West Africa in an authoritarian turn and of having muzzled the opposition.
Read also: Patrice Talon, an illiberal in Benin
The 15,531 polling stations closed at 4:00 p.m. (3:00 p.m. GMT) and the counting of the ballots began immediately, without much enthusiasm.
In the polling stations visited by AFP in Cotonou, the economic capital, participation rates did not exceed 30% and Patrice Talon, vying for a second term, led with a large lead, against former deputies Alassane Soumanou and Corentin Kohoué, two opposition candidates almost unknown to the general public.
Turnout is "
low compared to the previous election
", according to the first data collected by the electoral platform of civil society organizations.
According to this mission, which deployed some 1,400 observers across the country, “
in all departments, attempts to pressure, intimidate, threaten, disturb public order, corrupt or harass voters. observed
”.
The main opposition figures are either in exile, or condemned by the courts and imprisoned, or prevented from running because of the new Electoral Code and institutional reform.
Fear of violence
The streets of Cotonou remained quiet throughout the day, but many feared potential violence during the count or when the results were announced, scheduled for Monday or Tuesday.
On local radios, songs were played repeatedly to call for peaceful elections.
“
Violence is the weapon of the weak.
It leads to war and misery,
”sang a warm voice accompanied by choristers on a dancing melody.
The main opposition figures have called for a boycott of a pre-determined ballot in their eyes.
"
The president has chosen to be alone in front of himself in this unprecedented election since the democratic renewal
", wrote several representatives of the FRD (Front for the restoration of democracy).
Nevertheless, the government said it was "
satisfied
", through the voice of its spokesperson Alain Orunla.
“
Everything is going smoothly everywhere except for one or two towns.
Reassuring information reaches us, letting us think that the ballot is already a success
”.