Politics : What to avoid in 2024

If general elections in Benin are constitutionally scheduled to take place during the first quarter of 2026, this year which has just begun will be decisive. There are already warning signs that the bipolarization of the political class risks leading the country to a major crisis if nothing is done to dispassionate the debates..

While the easing of tension in political life was underway, the positions of actors from both the movement and the opposition suddenly stiffened the day after the ordinary congress of the Les Démocrates party (LD) organized the 14 and 15 October 2023 in Parakou. A l’occasion, former president Yayi Boni was placed at the head of this formation which declares itself the largest opposition party.

This change of direction sowed a wave of panic among the supporters of the head of state who, since, don't miss any opportunity to shoot arrows at their opponent. The challenge, this is the next presidential election in which President Talon has several times declared not to run. The Democrats' response is just as virulent, all things which raise fears of an increase in verbal violence until the elections of 2026.

However, this is just what is important for each political actor to avoid so that the country no longer experiences a period of electoral violence like what happened in 2021. For that, the effort to ease tension should continue. We remember that in 2022, President Patrice Talon undertook to meet opposition actors through presidents of intermediary institutions. The objective was to restore calm to the political arena marked by antagonism between the President of the Republic and Yayi Boni, his friend turned enemy.

During its installation, the President of the Assembly reappointed at the start 2023, threw, like a joke, the idea of ​​revising the constitution. Few gave credence to this announcement as it would be the second in a few years. But as time passes, the Beninese note that the supporters of such an adventure are very serious. When we know that tinkering with constitutions is the basis of protests across the continent, it is important that politicians venture in this direction, whatever the guarantees they present.

On a completely different side, peasants aspire to more economic freedom. As in 2023, trenches were dug on some border roads while on others, these are blocks of stones that were used to prevent the transport of soybeans to neighboring countries. By preventing producers from freely selling their products risks being counterproductive for those in power.

Writing