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(Special for CAFS)Ecowas to deploy observers for Benin's presidential runoff

Xinhua, March 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) will deploy an observation mission to supervise Benin presidential runoff on Sunday, a release from the sub-regional organization on Tuesday said in Cotonou.

Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou and businessman Patrice Talon will face off in the runoff that will pick the successor to the outgoing president Yayi Boni who will step down on April 6.

The mission is tasked with ensuring the smooth conduct of the electoral process and helping Benin people in its long tradition of democracy through a successful achievement of the coming Sunday polling, the release said.

"Observers will be deployed in the twelve departments of the country so as to supervise and follow all pre-electoral, electoral and post electoral operations and then comment on the conduct," it said.

The task mission comprises a member of Ecowas elders' council, Ecowas member States' ambassador to Ecowas commission in Abuja in Nigeria, members of Ecowas parliament and Court of Justice.

Patrice Talon has the support of a broad coalition comprising 24 defeated candidates of the first round, in his competition with Lionel Zinsou who is supported by the outgoing president Yayi Boni. Endit