Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07COTONOU225
2007-03-22 13:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Cotonou
Cable title:
BENIN: CONSTITUTIONAL COURT INVALIDATES DISMISSAL OF
how-toVZCZCXRO2745 PP RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHCO #0225 0811339 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 221339Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY COTONOU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9376 INFO RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1081 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 0127 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0300
UNCLAS COTONOU 000225
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W (DBANKS)
KAMPALA FOR FLINTROP, LONDON FOR HAHN, PARIS FOR D'ELIA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: CONSTITUTIONAL COURT INVALIDATES DISMISSAL OF
ELECTION COMMISSION PRESIDENT
REF: COTONOU 0217
UNCLAS COTONOU 000225
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W (DBANKS)
KAMPALA FOR FLINTROP, LONDON FOR HAHN, PARIS FOR D'ELIA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: CONSTITUTIONAL COURT INVALIDATES DISMISSAL OF
ELECTION COMMISSION PRESIDENT
REF: COTONOU 0217
1. (SBU) On March 21, Benin's Constitutional Court held an emergency
session to consider a petition from ousted National Election
Commission (CENA) president Antonin Akpinkou regarding his dismissal
on March 20 (REF). The Constitutional Court found that the CENA had
not followed the proper procedure, and voided the dismissal.
Informed media sources have told the Embassy that the CENA planned
to meet again on March 22 to reaffirm its dismissal of Akpinkou,
this time following the procedure outlined by the Constitutional
Court.
2. (U) These developments have re-kindled media speculation that the
March 25 legislative elections may need to be postponed by several
days. CENA officials, however, continue to make public statements
that they intended to organize the elections this weekend as
scheduled.
BROWN
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W (DBANKS)
KAMPALA FOR FLINTROP, LONDON FOR HAHN, PARIS FOR D'ELIA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: CONSTITUTIONAL COURT INVALIDATES DISMISSAL OF
ELECTION COMMISSION PRESIDENT
REF: COTONOU 0217
1. (SBU) On March 21, Benin's Constitutional Court held an emergency
session to consider a petition from ousted National Election
Commission (CENA) president Antonin Akpinkou regarding his dismissal
on March 20 (REF). The Constitutional Court found that the CENA had
not followed the proper procedure, and voided the dismissal.
Informed media sources have told the Embassy that the CENA planned
to meet again on March 22 to reaffirm its dismissal of Akpinkou,
this time following the procedure outlined by the Constitutional
Court.
2. (U) These developments have re-kindled media speculation that the
March 25 legislative elections may need to be postponed by several
days. CENA officials, however, continue to make public statements
that they intended to organize the elections this weekend as
scheduled.
BROWN