In Benin, an opposition party, Les Démocrates, was prevented from
holding a political meeting in Abomey-Calavi on February 9, 2025. The
party, led by former President Boni Yayi, denounced the move as an
infringement on political expression, while the municipal authorities justified
the ban due to a lack of formal authorization.
The event, intended as an accountability session between party leaders
and supporters, was halted by the police. The party’s spokesperson, Guy
Mitokpè, claimed that all legal formalities had been completed and accused
the authorities of using bureaucracy as an excuse to suppress political
opposition.
However, the mayor of Abomey-Calavi, Angelo Ahouandjinou, maintained
that the party had not fully completed the authorization process. He cited
security concerns and unpaid administrative fees as reasons for the ban.
The incident has sparked concerns about the state of democracy and
political freedoms in Benin.
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