Benin: President, 6 March 2016

At stake in this election:

• The office of the President of Benin

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Thomas Boni YAYI (since 6 April 2006)
• Head of Government: President Thomas Boni YAYI (since 6 April 2006)
• Assembly: Benin has a unicameral National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) with 83 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term, with eligibility for a second term.

Last Election:

• Benin’s last Presidential election was held on 13 March 2011. Incumbent Thomas Boni YAYI was re-elected, defeating Adrien HOUNGBEDJI of the opposition Democratic Renewal Party (PRD). YAYI received 53.1% of the vote, while HOUNGBEDJI took 35.6%.

Main candidates in the election:

• Lionel ZINSOU
  • Party: Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin (FCBE)/Forces Couris pour un Benin Emergent [1]  
• Sebastien AJAVON
  • Party: Independent
• Patrice TALON
  • Party: N/A
• Abdoulaye BIO-TCHANE
  • Party: N/A

Population and number of registered voters:

·         Population: 10,448,647

·         Registered Voters: 4,702,168

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 5,201,348

·         Is Benin a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (11 November 1981)

·         Has Benin ratified CEDAW: Yes (12 March 1992)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 7/83 (8%)

·         Human Development Index Position: 166 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: High (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Benin a signatory to CRPD: Yes (8 February 2008)

·         Has Benin ratified CRPD: Yes (5 July 2012)

·      Population with a disability: Approximately 840,000