Benin’s National Assembly has approved a constitutional amendment that temporarily abolishes the country’s Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA), with its responsibilities to be transferred to the Ministry of the Interior while a broader electoral reform process is carried out. The government says the move is intended to streamline election administration and prepare for the creation of a restructured electoral body.
Officials insist the decision is temporary and forms part of a wider overhaul aimed at improving the efficiency, transparency, and credibility of Benin’s electoral system ahead of future national polls. According to the government, a new independent electoral commission will be established once the reform process is completed.
The decision has sparked criticism from opposition parties and civil society organizations, which argue that transferring electoral responsibilities to a government ministry could undermine the independence of election management and weaken public confidence in future elections. Critics have called for safeguards to ensure the reforms do not compromise democratic institutions.
The reform comes amid ongoing debates over Benin’s democratic trajectory. Since President Patrice Talon took office in 2016, the country has introduced a series of political and electoral reforms that supporters say have strengthened governance, while critics argue they have reduced political pluralism and limited opposition participation.
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