Who is benin president

For his part, Boni Yayi said: "A lot of people think there's a deep rift between Talon and Yayi, but there's nothing deep. He added: "I made some proposals to the president The two men are former allies -- Talon, a cotton tycoon, bankrolled Boni Yayi's successful presidential runs in and But they fell out in late , prompting Talon to leave the country for three years, accused of trying to poison Boni Yayi. Once praised as a vibrant multi-party democracy, the former French colony has veered onto an authoritarian path under Talon, with a steady campaign against his political foes, critics say.

But Talon has been praised for his efforts to develop the poor country of around 12 million people. After the election, the two men held talks brokered by Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, but they failed to reconcile.

Boni Yayi questioned the legality of the polls, after which security forces surrounded his home for nearly two months, prompting him to go into exile. In November , Talon and Boni Yayi were set to meet but the former president did not turn up at the palace.

RFI is not responsible for the content of external websites. Challenged about the fact that all his main opponents were either in exile to escape imprisonment or behind bars in Benin, apart from former president Thomas Boni Yayi, Talon dismissed accusations that democracy was in retreat in Benin and that he was responsible.

Talon suggested that the leaders of neighbouring countries had been involved in an operation to de-stabilize Benin but declined to elaborate or name which leaders. The president denies that civilians were killed in violence which erupted in the north central part of the country between the 6 th and 9 th of April when voters, angry that so many would-be opposition candidates were either in exile or in prison, took to the streets in protest.

At the time, he expressed regret over injuries among law and order agents but made no mention of civilian deaths. Asked by RFI and France 24 if he could say how many civilians died, he rebuffed the idea. Colonel Solo suspended the constitution and banned political parties. A new constitution was approved in a referendum on March 31, Presidential elections were held on May 5, , but the results were invalidated due to the low voter turnout.

Opponents of the military government had called for a boycott of the presidential elections on May 2, President Zinsou was approved with 76 percent of the vote in a referendum on July 28, The MRC was dissolved on July 31, Presidential elections were held on March 28, , but the results were annulled by Colonel Paul-Emile de Souza as a result of political violence.

A three-member presidential council chaired by Hubert Maga took control of the government on May 2, The government suppressed a military rebellion led by Lt. On May 6, , six military personnel were sentenced to death for their involvement in the military rebellion.

President Idi Amin of Uganda expressed support for the military coup on October 28, The government suppressed a military rebellion on January 22, , and seven individuals were sentenced to death for their involvement in the military rebellion on March 17, FLRD mercenaries attacked the city of Cotonou on January 16, , resulting in the deaths of several individuals.

On April 9, , the NCR sentenced individuals to death for their involvement in the January rebellion.