Voters in Benin are taking part in elections following days of protests over President Patrice Talon’s broken promise to serve only one term in office.
There are just two other candidates on the ballot, in a country dubbed the birthplace of African multiparty democracy.
Alassane Soumanou of the opposition FCBE party is a former minister, while Corentin Kohoué is seen as more of a wildcard.
Several key opposition figures – including an ex-prime minister and a former mayor of the biggest city Cotonou – have either been arrested and ruled ineligible or are now in exile.
But a government spokesman has told the BBC “no-one is excluded from this election”.
“We do not need every person in Benin to run as candidates in an election for it to be representative. Once you have the ruling party and the opposition represented, an election is complete – and the democratic system is operational,” communication minister Alain Arounla said.More than 5.5 million people are eligible to vote, including about 45,500 in the diaspora, and results are expected within days. (BBC)