Police in Benin dispersed a protest over the high cost of living organized by trade unions, leading to the arrest of several union leaders on Saturday.
The demonstration, which was supposed to take place in the commercial capital Cotonou, was blocked by armed police who used tear gas to scatter the protesters.
Among those arrested were Moudassirou Bachabi, head of the General Confederation of Workers of Benin (CGTB), and Anselme Amoussou, leader of union CSA-Benin, along with 16 other demonstrators.
The police presence was overwhelming, with journalists being turned away from the area.
CGTB’s deputy general secretary Anita Bossoukpe expressed the frustration of the protesters, highlighting the dire economic situation in the country.
“We are all hungry. I received my salary on the 22nd, at this moment I don’t even have 500 CFA francs ($0.82) and I have to get through the month, which has barely started,” she explained.
Clemence Akinocho, another protester, emphasized the soaring prices of food staples in Benin, making it difficult for ordinary citizens to afford basic necessities. The protesters, although peaceful, were outnumbered by the police forces.
Despite an increase in the minimum salary in Benin from 40,000 CFA francs ($65) to 52,000 CFA francs ($85) per month, the prices of essential goods like fuel, corn, gari flour, beans, and cowpeas have continued to rise.
This economic strain has been exacerbated by a general decline in incomes in sub-Saharan Africa, as reported by the International Monetary Fund.
This unrest comes in the wake of Benin’s issuance of a sovereign dollar bond earlier this year, raising questions about the efficacy of economic policies in addressing the needs of the population.
The protesters’ voices, though suppressed by the authorities, highlight the growing discontent over the cost of living and the economic challenges facing the people of Benin.
