A third election without main opposition parties in Benin

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the political crisis in Benin leading up to the presidential election on 11 April 2021. It argues that the exclusion of main opposition parties through a restrictive electoral code undermines the country's democratic progress and risks triggering civil strife and post-election violence.

• The 2019 adoption of a new electoral code by the ruling Republican Bloc (BP) and Progressist Union (UP) introduced an endorsement requirement that effectively excludes main opposition parties from presidential elections. Candidates must be sponsored by at least 16 parliamentarians or mayors; because the BP and UP control the National Assembly and 70 of 77 local councillors, they control eligibility.
• Benin's democratic standing has declined, moving from 'Free' to 'Partly Free' in the Freedom in the World 2020 report. This decline is attributed to the absence of opposition parties in three consecutive elections since 2019, which creates a perception that election outcomes are predetermined.
• There is a significant risk of civil strife and a repeat of the 2019 post-election violence, during which security forces killed at least four protesters. Tensions are exacerbated by the detention of five opposition figures on terrorism and political sabotage charges, as well as a 2019 constitutional amendment that extended President Patrice Talon's term by 45 days.
• The situation in Benin is presented as part of a broader trend in West Africa where incumbents guarantee re-election by intentionally excluding political opponents before voting occurs. The authors call for African regional organizations, including the African Union and ECOWAS, to rethink their conflict prevention strategies.

APA

Zounmenou, D., Abatan, J. E., & Matongbada, M. (n.d.). A third election without main opposition parties in Benin. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/a-third-election-without-main-opposition-parties-in-benin

Chicago

Zounmenou, David, Jeannine Ella Abatan, and Michaël Matongbada. A third election without main opposition parties in Benin. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/a-third-election-without-main-opposition-parties-in-benin.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Zounmenou |first1=David |last2=Abatan |first2=Jeannine Ella |last3=Matongbada |first3=Michaël |title=A third election without main opposition parties in Benin |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.org/iss-today/a-third-election-without-main-opposition-parties-in-benin |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{zounmenoundthird, author = {Zounmenou, David and Abatan, Jeannine Ella and Matongbada, Michaël}, title = {{A third election without main opposition parties in Benin}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.org/iss-today/a-third-election-without-main-opposition-parties-in-benin}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }