The Benin presidential election took a decisive turn as the favorite candidate, Romuald Wadagni, seemed poised for victory even as the voting process was ongoing. In a move that underscored his strong position, Wadagni, 49, received a concession of sorts from his opponent, Paul Hounkpe, who extended “republican congratulations “to Wadagni, the finance minister. Hounkpe’s concession was a notable gesture, as it came before the official results were even announced, with expectations of a formal declaration on Tuesday.
Wadagni’s popularity was no surprise, given his endorsement by outgoing leader Patrice Talon. The economic growth that Wadagni achieved amidst jihadist attacks has been a cornerstone of his campaign. However, despite this, the electorate of Benin, a nation with an eight million-strong population, seemed to lack enthusiasm for either candidate, particularly in the country’s urban centers.
In the capital city of Porto — Novo, the voting turnout on Sunday varied from 20 to 40 percent across various polling stations. But by Monday, life in the economic capital, Cotonou, had largely returned to normal. Hounkpe, who ran a discreet campaign, secured parliamentary endorsements to even qualify for the ballot, but faced an uphill battle as the main opposition Democrats party decided not to field a candidate due to internal leadership issues.
As the media parsed the election, Le Telegramme described the voting process as “generally calm and well-organised, “while Le Matin Libre predicted Wadagni’s path to the presidential palace, the Marina. However, Le Patriote raised concerns about “signs of an electoral heist, “a sentiment echoed by some who remained skeptical of the unfolding events.
Despite the excitement in certain quarters, the mood among Beninese citizens like Alimata, a lock seller in the Gbegemey neighborhood, was cautiously optimistic. “If this election or Wadagni’s arrival can change our lives, we shall be happy, “Alimata said “but for now, we have to find a way to feed the family.”The international community also weighed in on the election process.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) observed a “peaceful atmosphere “during the voting, while the head of Benin’s electoral commission, Sacca Lafia, confirmed the peaceful conduct of the election. However, an electoral monitoring platform reported around one hundred “incident alerts, “including polling stations opening early and voting boxes appearing full before voting commenced.
Wadagni’s presidency, if confirmed, will mark continuity with the Talon era, which has seen Benin experience rapid economic growth, expanded tourism, and the completion of numerous infrastructure projects. Yet, significant challenges remain, such as a large wealth gap and a rising poverty rate, which is estimated to be over 30 percent. Security is another critical issue, as the country’s north faces increasing jihadist violence, primarily from the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM). The next presidential elections are not scheduled until 2033, following a constitutional reform that extended the presidential term from five to seven years and synchronized all elections for that year.
Source: Africanews
Original author: Rédaction Africanews
