Benin 2018
In 2018, Benin had a population of approximately 11.8 million people. The economy is largely based on agriculture, services and industry. French is the official language although other languages such as Fon and Yoruba are also spoken. According to extrareference, Benin is a presidential republic with an executive branch headed by the President who is elected by popular vote for a five-year term. The legislative branch consists of a unicameral parliament (the National Assembly). In terms of foreign relations, Benin maintains diplomatic ties with over 70 countries around the world and has close ties with its neighbors in West Africa such as Nigeria and Togo. The government also works closely with international organizations such as the United Nations, African Union (AU), World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Trade Organization (WTO) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Yearbook 2018
Benin. President Patrice Talon’s attempt to liberalize parts of the economy faced continued protests and strikes. In June, the Constitutional Court issued a ban on strikes among employees in the defense, police, courts and medical services. The decision drew criticism and changed the court’s previous position.
In August, Talon announced that plans for a referendum to change the constitution are being laid on ice. The cost was considered to be too high. The proposals, which Parliament had previously rejected, intended to increase the proportion of women in Parliament, abolish the death penalty and establish a Court of Auditors. A referendum was still possible after Parliament’s no.
- According to Abbreviationfinder: BEN is an three letter acronym for Benin.
According to Countryaah.com, Porto-Novo is the capital city of Benin, a country located in Western Africa. The government was reformed in late October. Three ministers from businessman Sébastien Ajavon’s party were dismissed and replaced by representatives from other parties. The decision indicated that the informal alliance between the two businessmen had been broken, and that Talon was seeking to broaden its support for the 2019 parliamentary elections.
Ajavon was eliminated in the 2016 presidential election and later supported Talon. He claims that the government is pursuing him with inventive criminal charges. He was sentenced in October to 20 years for drug offenses. He refuses, but was in exile in France when the verdict was handed down.
Heavy protests led to the government withdrawing a decree in September to tax the use of the Internet and apps. The critics said that the government wanted to approach oppositionists. The France-based group Internet Without Borders noted the irony that the government’s decision was announced on social media.
