The presidential election will be held tomorrow, Sunday, April 11, in Benin. Less than 24 hours before the vote, the blocking of the tracks of the Talon protesters disrupts the delivery of election materials to the polling stations in the north of the country. Trucks were stranded. However, the equipment must be in place quickly to welcome voters from 7 a.m. on Sunday morning. It is a race against time that begins.
as reported from Cotonou, Jean-Luc Aplogan
In recent days, the campaign has been marked by tensions and violence, protest movements that have reportedly left two dead and injured in the center of the country, in Savè, but there is no official record. President Patrice Talon is running for a second term. He will face two opponents, but the major figures of the opposition could not present themselves.
Canceled trip
A total of sixteen trucks transported election materials for the northern country, but during the night from Friday to Saturday, April 10, no one had arrived at their destination. However, they had taken the road, some from eastern Benin, others from the west. The journey is interrupted very quickly by violent demonstrations and barricades.
Hanging around, getting stuck in the rows of cars was risky. The material transported is sensitive and is used for a vote whose poster is in dispute. Suddenly the sixteen trucks have turned around and for safety’s sake they are parked in a garrison, 200 km from Cotonou and 50 km from Savè.
Tree trunks
Roads are still blocked by tree trunks, tires, trucks and cobblestones. There are also two options on the table, namely to resume the road but provided that the army quickly lifts all obstacles or otherwise conveys everything by air.
Read also: Presidential election in Benin: the situation becomes a little more tense two days before the election
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