Beninese CSOs deplore disruptions in Sunday's communal poll

18 Mai 2020

Cotonou, Benin,  May  18  (Infosplusgabon) – The communal elections on Sunday in Benin recorded some disruptions at different places, according to the preliminary declaration of the platform of civil society observers.

"At the beginning of the poll, the Platform noted some disruptions. In the polling centres in Sè (southwest of the country), in Avrankou, Djègan-Kpèvi (southeast) and in Wèki-Daho, the poll was marked by disruptions that were immediately contained by the security forces," it said on Sunday evening.

The Platform said its observers noted that about 50% of alerts received focused on the non-respect of the precautionary measures against the COVID-19, particularly the absence of masks and sanitisers at the entrance of the polling centres, the non-respect of social distancing between polling assistants and voters and between voters themselves.

It said 131 alerts were received on the electoral platform with 44 resolved.

Other alerts related to the late opening of polling centres, absence of measures against the COVID-19 and continuation of campaign in several voting centres.

The platform is making recommendations to the national autonomous electoral commission, political parties, the defence and security forces, the public and voters.

Beninese voted on Sunday to elect representatives in the communes. Five political parties took part in the election - the Progressive Union (UP), the Republican Bloc (BR), the Party for Democratic regeneration (PRD), the Cauris Forces for Emerging Benin (FCBE, the only opposition party) and the Democratic Union for new Benin (UDBN).

To counter the spread of the COVID-19, Benin carried out an exclusive media campaign. Private and public media organisations were selected to receive and disseminate the messages of the parties to the public.

FIN/ INFOSPLUSGABON/RTF/GABON2020

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