COTONOU – Benin President Patrice Talon is seeking re-election on Sunday in a tense ballot, with critics accusing him of rigging the race in his favour by sidelining opposition leaders.
Tensions rose ahead of the vote, with protests breaking out in several cities in opposition strongholds. "I don't understand what Talon is doing," said Philomene M'Betti Tepa, a resident of the northwestern town of Boukoumbe.Talon's backers have rejected accusations the election will be fixed, saying all the conditions are there for a fair vote.
Following 17 years of military rule along Marxist-Leninist lines, the former French colony opened up into a multi-party democracy in 1990. Slotted between Africa's powerhouse Nigeria and neighbouring Togo, Benin has seen some economic successes under Talon, who has played up his record while campaigning.