Polling stations were closed in Benin as people in the West African nation voted for a new president on Sunday, with Finance Minister Romuald Vadagni expected to win.
Nearly eight million voters were eligible to vote to choose a successor to Benin’s outgoing President Patrice Talon, who is stepping down after reaching the limit of two five-year terms and surviving a coup attempt last December.
Who are the contenders?
Talon has backed his 49-year-old finance minister, Romuald Vadagni, to lead the next government.
In his previous role, Vadagni oversaw consistent growth of more than 6% every year for a decade – a legacy he has campaigned on to continue.
“We are going to go further, further than what began before your eyes,” he told supporters in Cotonou.
The main opposition party, the Democrats, is not fielding any candidates after its leader Renaud Agbodjo failed to garner enough parliamentary support to get his name on the ballot.
The only other candidate on the ballot is Paul Hounkpe of the Kouri Forces for Emerging Benin.
Hounkpé has a low profile, but he has argued that development under Talon and Wadagni has not improved the lives of ordinary Beninese people.
“If we make progress but none of us can afford three meals a day, then we have made no progress. Yes or no?” he said at a rally earlier this month.
Results are due within a few days
Benin has been one of the most stable democracies in Africa for years, but critics argue that electoral eligibility rules were designed to sideline rivals of Talon and his chosen successor.
Substantial election monitoring delegations have been sent by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union and the European Union.
The ECOWAS delegation was led by former Cuban President Nana Akufo-Addo.
“We hope that the majority of Beninese people will come out today to make their choice,” he told AFP news agency.
Voting is expected to close at 4pm local time and results are expected within 48 hours.
Edited by: Jennifer Cimino Gonzalez