Police in Benin resorted to tear gas to disband a demonstration orchestrated by labor unions in the bustling economic hub of Cotonou, citing grievances regarding soaring living expenses and governance issues.
In Cotonou, small clusters of protestors congregated in a designated area, encircled by police contingents who utilized tear gas to scatter the demonstrators, as reported by an on-site AFP correspondent.
Expressing her discontent, trader Ariane Assilamehou voiced, “I came here to march against the high cost of living,” registering her dismay at the swift police response.
During the clashes, protestors rallied with the national anthem as a backdrop.
CSA Benin, a prominent union, conveyed via X, formerly Twitter, that their leader Anselme Amoussou had been detained by law enforcement. Additionally, a union insider disclosed that around a dozen other protestors had been apprehended. However, police authorities refrained from promptly releasing a statement regarding the incident.
In 2023, Benin’s economy demonstrated resilience; nevertheless, akin to its neighboring coastal West African nations, it grappled with trade setbacks following the closure of the border with Niger subsequent to a coup, coupled with surging inflation and escalating petrol prices, according to the World Bank.
Once renowned for its vibrant multi-party democracy, Benin has faced criticism under President Patrice Talon’s tenure since 2016, with detractors asserting a slide toward authoritarianism.
Alban Kelomey, spearheading a grassroots union of healthcare workers, underscored the determination of the protestors, remarking, “Workers in Benin are suffering… It’s sad what the country has become under Talon.”
Reckya Madougou, a prominent opposition figure, was sentenced in 2021 to a two-decade term on charges of “complicity in terrorist acts,” a trial widely condemned by legal experts as politically motivated.
Critics contend that the Economic Crime and Terrorism Court (CRIET), where Madougou was tried, has been leveraged by Talon’s administration to suppress dissent within the opposition ranks.
Moreover, in the 2021 presidential election, several opposition leaders, including Madougou, were barred from candidacy, culminating in Talon’s re-election with an overwhelming majority.
Government authorities rebuff allegations of political meddling, asserting the independence of Benin’s judiciary.
