Cotonou hosted a national workshop on election protection this week, organized by the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA) with support from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) and Canadian cooperation.
The two-day workshop, which concluded on Thursday, 28 August 2025, was designed as a key preparatory step ahead of Benin’s 2026 general elections.
The closing ceremony was chaired by Laurentine Adossou Davo, rapporteur of the Electoral Council at CENA, and attended by Erik Asplund, senior advisor to International IDEA, Abou Boucary Soulé Adam, director general of elections, international experts, and representatives from civil society.
During the workshop, participants identified and categorized potential risks that could threaten the electoral process.
Legal disputes, instances of electoral violence, and operational malfunctions involving election agents were among the key concerns examined.
Working groups proposed strategies for preventing and managing these threats, culminating in the development of the first electoral risk matrix—a strategic tool intended to safeguard transparency, fairness, and inclusivity in the 2026 elections.
In her closing remarks, Laurentine Adossou Davo praised “the quality of the discussions” and emphasized the importance of translating the workshop’s outcomes into practical measures.
She stated: “This matrix constitutes a real guarantee of a peaceful, fair and transparent election,” urging all stakeholders to actively contribute to democratic consolidation.
Erik Asplund of International IDEA described the workshop as “an important step in the commitment to electoral integrity security,” noting that it would serve as a pilot phase for a more comprehensive training tool on election protection.
Civil society representatives also welcomed the initiative. Latifatou Waïdi, president of the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for Elections and Peace (COSCEP), said: “We have a better understanding of the risks and possible threats during the elections. Today, we are well equipped to anticipate and prevent them.”
The workshop reflects Benin’s ongoing commitment to strengthening electoral integrity and ensuring that the 2026 polls are conducted in a secure, transparent, and inclusive manner, with all actors actively engaged in mitigating potential risks.
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