News Analysis: Benin's president begins 2nd term's final year amid social tension

Benin's President Boni Yayi who came to power in 2006, on Tuesday began the final year of his second five year term amid rising social tension and division among the population on constitutional reforms.

Despite the president's efforts since 2006 to eradicate poverty by improving the workers' living conditions, some public administration sectors, particularly health, education and judiciary have continued to witness incessant strikes.

Besides the strikes that have sometimes paralyzed public service, the country is also divided over the constitutional reforms proposed by Yayi.

In this regard, since June 6, 2013 when the government sent to Parliament a constitutional amendment bill, the country has witnessed heated political debates.

Although the bill's initiators termed it as "revolutionary," it has never received widespread acceptance, especially among the opposition parties and civil society organizations who argue that "history from other regional countries does not favor the proposed amendments."

The opponents have noted that some African countries have had the bad practice where leaders change the constitution in their second term so that they can find ways to remain in power.

However, those pushing for the current amendments in Benin have continued to insist that the fundamental sections of the 1990 Constitution will be preserved.

These sections include the rule of law, liberal democracy, the republican nature of the state, integral multipartism, the presidential nature of the regime, term limits for the president and the age of presidential candidates.

"I believe having served for ten years is enough. I will not change the Constitution to remain in power because I do not want to betray the people," president Yayi has said repeatedly.

However, the opposition parties and civil society groups have continued to doubt the president's sincerity. Endi