There can be no doubt that on March 5, the Beninoise voted for change. They trooped out in large numbers and such was their enthusiasm that in some cases voting continued beyond midnight. The Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA) underestimated the number of voters. There was a shortage of polling stations. In some cases polling facilities arrived late. Even ballot boxes were in short supply and it was only a last-minute request to neighbouring Togo that saved the day. The counting of votes was conducted in some instances under candle-light.
Despite these shortcomings, the process was considerably fair and the electorate demonstrated great discipline. Even the two-week campaign during which among others churches and voodoo priests prayed for peace, was orderly and free of intimidation. With outgoing Kerekou endorsing no one, the territory was left wide open for all comers. The Presidential election is scheduled for a second round as no candidate secured the 50 per cent required for outright victory. Yayi Boni, former Head of the West African Development Bank won the first round with 35.6 per cent. In the run-off scheduled for March 19, he will face Adrien Houngbedji, former Speaker of Parliament who got 24.2 per cent.
Outgoing President Kerekou, in power for 30 out of the 34 years of independence, is said to be unhappy about observed inadequacies in the election. He worries that the elections may not be sufficiently transparent. He fears that this situation could lead to a protracted delay in the announcement of a winner. We hope that President Kerekou's forebodings are not borne out by unfolding events. Indeed the world expects him to complete what he has so admirably started by facilitating the transition to new leadership in his country by April 6. Complaints in the last election have been forwarded to the Constitutional Court. This should not serve as an excuse for prolonging the people's expectations.
Kerekou has come a long way since those days in 1972 when as a military officer he seized power in a coup and declared himself a Communist dictator. He has mellowed over time such that today he can be described as an evangelical Christian and a democrat. Issues of poverty and corruption continue to trouble his tiny republic. But it must be said of Kerekou that he has stabilised his country and has made Benin a sea of tranquillity in a volatile region.
The key lesson of his example is that he has, like President Thabo Mbeki, resisted the temptation to amend his country's constitution to enable him run for a third term at whatever age. He has refused to impose himself perpetually on his people. If Kerekou had wanted, he could have subjected his country's Constitution to a round of forced amendment to serve narrow political interests. This act of statesmanship is worthy of commendation. It has earned President Kerekou a place of honour in the annals of modern African history.