At least one person was shot dead and six injured after the army intervened to disperse a demonstration by opponents in the center of the country. According to witnesses, the soldiers “fired in the air” to disperse the demonstrators, before clearing the road.
They protested against the absence of opposition candidates in Sunday’s ballot and especially to recall the end of the constitutional mandate of President Patrice Talon on April 6. However, according to a revision of the constitution in November 2019, his mandate will rather expire on May 23, when the new President of the Republic takes office. This revision of the fundamental law is contested by the opposition and deemed unconstitutional by the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Reaction of Alain Orounla, Minister of Communication and Post of Benin, also spokesperson for the Benin government.
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