Editorial de Arimi Choubadé : Even a workers' march on the cost of living, it does not go through

Cotonou labor exchange banned for workers ; union officials kept in police premises throughout the day 27 avril 2024. This is happening with the champion of the restoration of democracy in Niger. 34 years after the national conference, the Talon regime found nothing better than this disturbing advertisement on Benin, siege of the black spring in 1990. For a land without gold or diamonds or oil or iron, an image of totalitarianism or even despotism is a real tragedy. The spectacle of the siege of besieged workers all day long, its access roads completely cordoned off by police officers exposed under a blazing sun ; they barely understood why their superiors put them in this role. Just for a trivial matter of protest against the management of high prices ?

The subterfuge has been announced 48 hours before the march by a prefect in the role of an instrument of manipulation rather than that of a convinced follower of the repression of marchers. Alain Orounla in a childish whistleblower act laconically complaining about an alleged lack of authorization for the march which falls within his jurisdiction if it were necessary. While he was aware of the intentions of the unionists 2 weeks earlier. It was simply up to him to officially notify the organizers whether he consented or not.. Instead of giving in to this hideous stain on a country lacking guidance. Stateless people recruited to blacken the Benin destination would not have done better.

However, the subject under debate is of great use to everyone. : the cost of living. Never have the most basic commodities reached the prices seen today. The kg of corn which is close to the 500 f CFA, the bean 700 FCFA per kg or vegetable oil 1600 the liter. Enough to make the only daily meal a luxury inaccessible to everyone. Previously, It is in these difficult times that the government takes action if only to curb speculation thanks to the reserves of the National Food Security Office Onasa.

More, the billionaires in power had sung the requiem of the social arsenal for the benefit of the most vulnerable. The Onasa showrooms are part of the forgotten past. The funds which were used to store cereals made it possible to erect postcard statues around the airport and the Presidency of the Republic. From now on, every Beninese citizen copes with the scarcity of products, to speculators and other traffic. More responsibility from power towards the hunger installed in the home of each worker. On the other hand, there is no question of disturbing the peace of the billionaires by tolerating in the streets of Cotonou a procession of poor, starving wretches suffering from absolute hardship..

At the end of the crazy day of 27 avril 2024, a review is necessary. Who won what in the end? ? The prefect ? The police ? The government or the hungry ? About the prefect, the trick was quickly revealed over the course of the events of the famous day. It was indeed the Director General of Police who was in charge on the ground.. Then the arrested found themselves in Agblangandan outside the coastal department. It was therefore not a matter of the prefecture but of the highest security hierarchy.. The workers and populations were unable to express their hunger while the whole country got away with a posture of intolerance and arbitrariness.

This is also this, Benin revealed in 2016.