Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09COTONOU186
2009-05-11 13:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Cotonou
Cable title:  

BENIN: DEPUTIES PASS BILLS ON THE PERMANENT COMPUTERIZED

Tags:  PGOV PREL BN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1352
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHCO #0186/01 1311327
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 111327Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY COTONOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0905
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1436
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0438
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COTONOU 000186 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W ACOOK
LONDON FOR PETER LORD
PARIS FOR BKANEDA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: DEPUTIES PASS BILLS ON THE PERMANENT COMPUTERIZED
VOTER REGISTRY (LEPI)

REF: COTONOU 124 AND PREVIOUS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COTONOU 000186

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W ACOOK
LONDON FOR PETER LORD
PARIS FOR BKANEDA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: DEPUTIES PASS BILLS ON THE PERMANENT COMPUTERIZED
VOTER REGISTRY (LEPI)

REF: COTONOU 124 AND PREVIOUS


1. (U) SUMMARY: National Assembly deputies set the legal framework
for the Permanent Computerized Voter Registry (LEPI) by adopting two
bills necessary for its implementation. President Yayi is expected
to promulgate the bill to allow the start of the LEPI. The elements
for the implementation of the LEPI are in place, except for funding.
The GOB depends heavily on Technical and Financial Partners' (TFPs)
contributions to proceed with the LEPI. TFPs have not yet raised the
entire estimated USD 32 million budgeted for implementation. END
SUMMARY.

--------------
Deputies approved Permanent Computerized
Voter Registry (LEPI) project
--------------


2. (U) On May 4, Deputies approved by majority vote a bill on the
design of the LEPI and on the National Extended Electoral Census
(RENA). The approved bill on the implementation of the LEPI contains
52 articles providing the administrative, technical and legal
framework for the LEPI. The RENA will allow citizens from age 8, who
do not possess birth certificates, to be issued them during public
outreach sessions coordinated by the Ministry of Justice. In
addition, citizens should be at least 12-years old to be registered
on the LEPI because updating will be performed every ten years. The
LEPI bill also provides for the creation of an Independent Mission
for National Autonomous Census (MIRENA),a technical agency that
will be responsible for designing the LEPI. According to Helene
Aholou Keke, the President of the National Assembly's Committee on
Law, the LEPI is designed to reinforce the credibility of Benin's
electoral process through reducing the practice of electoral fraud
likely to spark electoral violence.


3. (U) Prior to the adoption of this bill, on April 27, National
Assembly deputies examined and, after heated debate, unanimously
approved the bill on the protection of personal data in the Republic
of Benin, which is a prerequisite for the design of the LEPI. The
bill is meant to secure voters' personal information in order to
reduce the risk of the fraudulent use of biometric details. Deputies
also proposed a National Computer and Public Liberties Committee
that would supervise personal data collection efforts on the ground.
The two approved bills are expected to expedite the implementation
of the LEPI so as to meet the deadline of March 2011. However,
President Yayi will need to sign the bills into law for their actual
application. It is noteworthy that a network of Civil Society
organizations, group FORS LEPI, lobbied for the adoption of the bill
in the parliament.

--------------
GOB awaits Technical and Financial
Partners' assistance but...
--------------


4. (SBU) During an April 23 meeting attended by Poloff at the UNDP
office in Cotonou, TFPs expressed concerns regarding four main
issues related to the bill on the LEPI. First, the requirement
imposed by the GOB that the fingerprints be ten-prints rather than
the original left thumb will extend operation time. Second, the
decision to hire three-member teams rather than two will imply
provision of additional kits as they will need more door-to door
teams to work in the compressed time frame. Third, the decision to
take the census of citizens aged 8 rather than citizens aged 10 as
mentioned in the initial report will increase the number of people
to register and likely require an extension of the deadline. Fourth,
the proposed registration of Beninese Diaspora as part of the RENA
will add complexity to the process.


5. (SBU) Technical and Financial Partners concerns stemmed from the
fact that the requirements contained in the bills would incur a
substantial increase in the budget for the LEPI. It was pointed out
that TFPs have not yet gathered the initial estimated USD 32 million
budget for the LEPI. TFPs sent a letter to the Minister in Charge of
Relations with the Institutions, Zakari Baba Body, urging him to
lobby deputies for amending the bill on the LEPI prior to approval.
A source from the National Assembly told Post that deputies did
bring amendments to the bills at plenary session before adoption,
which could maintain the estimated budget at its current level. Post
was not able to check the information because the approved bills are
not published.


5. (SBU) COMMENT: By adopting the bills on the LEPI,
parliamentarians have made giant strides towards its implementation.
The public has hailed parliamentarians for demonstrating their
commitment to transparent elections. Still, there is a long way to
go to complete the LEPI before the 2011 presidential and legislative

COTONOU 00000186 002 OF 002


elections. The GOB and civil society need to maintain this level of
interest and action over the long haul. END COMMENT.


BROWN