Tense presidential elections have held in Benin as people cast their votes early on Sunday in a vote that has been marred by violence during campaigning.
Incumbent President Patrice Talon is facing only two rivals which are Alassane Soumanou and Corentin Kohoué, while opponents are either exiled abroad or barred from running due to the new electoral code and institutional reform.
Benin will also elect a vice-president for the first time and Talon has chosen a woman for the post; Mariam Talata, a 57-year-old philosophy professor who is charismatic and a feminist.
In the South of the country, campaigning was lackluster but in the North, serious violence broke out after residents blocked roads and the army cleared the way using live ammunition.
According to the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (Cena) the roadblocks caused a delay in the deployment of electoral materials in the North.
However, The president has promised a sure first-round victory and is staking his economic record in his bid for a second term.
Nearly five million voters are expected in over 15,000 polling stations across the country including in southern Cotonou, Porto Novo, Bom and Calavis
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