BENIN: PRESIDENT KICKS OFF IMPLEMENTATION OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COTONOU 000586

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W ASHLEY STEWART
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID KDEM BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: PRESIDENT KICKS OFF IMPLEMENTATION OF
PERMANENT COMPUTERIZED VOTER REGISTRY (LEPI)

REFs: A) COTONOU 00339 B) COTONOU 00186 C) COTONOU 00124
D) COTONOU 00802


1. (U) SUMMARY. On November 19, President Yayi inaugurated
implementation of Benin's Permanent Computerized Voter Registry
project (French: Liste Electorale Permanente Informatisee - LEPI)
scheduled to start on November 23 with a National Extended Electoral
Census (French: Recensement Electoral National Approfondi - RENA).
In a nationally broadcast speech, the President called on political
leaders and Beninese citizens to join forces in achieving a
successful and efficient LEPI in the interest of transparent
presidential and legislative elections in 2011. Opposition leaders
still object to the way the LEPI is implemented, while the
government and civil society have increased outreach efforts to
build public support for the LEPI. END SUMMARY.

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LEPI STARTS ON NOVEMBER 23
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2. (U) President Yayi announced that an extended electoral census
(RENA) will start countrywide on November 23 to implement the LEPI.
The RENA will identify voters' locations through a Geographic
Information System (GIS, carried by Global Positioning System - GPS)
and a door-to-door extended census to register potential voters.
According to Yayi, elections since 1991 have been marred with
irregularities leading to contested results and a loss of
credibility for Benin's electoral system. He stated his government's
concern about the lack of reliability and the high cost associated
with manual compilation of a voter registry performed for each
election since the 60's. Yayi underscored that Benin needs a
reliable electoral system to strengthen democracy. He called for
political dialogue and tolerance to ensure peaceful implementation
of the LEPI.

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A COMPUTERIZED VOTER REGISTRY LIKE IN
SOUTH AFRICA AND GHANA
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3. (U) The President said that Benin is not the first country to put
in place a computerized voter registry, citing South Africa and
Ghana as successful examples. He praised the efforts of the
government, parliamentarians, and international donors on behalf of
the LEPI. These include the legal framework provided by the
government and the National Assembly, and financial and technical
support pledged by donor countries and international organizations.
(NOTE: The provisional budget for the LEPI amounts to approximately
USD 32 million. Donor countries and international organizations that
have already contributed to the "Basket Fund" include the European
Union, UNDP, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Other donors
including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS),
France, Germany and Spain are expected to provide financial support
soon. There is a financial gap of USD 12 million for which the
government has no committed donors).


4. (U) Yayi said the LEPI will help strengthen and consolidate the
foundation of Benin's young democracy by modernizing voter registry
management, improving electoral monitoring and reducing
election-related public expenses. The president, therefore, urged
citizens everywhere to participate actively in the implementation of
the LEPI.

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OPPOSITION LEADERS EXPRESS DISAGREEMENT
OVER THE LEPI
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5. (U) During a joint opposition meeting on November 17, which was
covered by the press, opposition leaders including Bruno Amoussou
(Social Democrats-PSD),Adrien Houngbedji (Democratic Renewal
Party-PRD),Antoine Idji Kolawole (African Movement for Democracy
and Progress-MADEP),Lazare Sehoueto (Key Force Party) and Georges
Bada (Renaissance of Benin (RB) Executive Secretary) decried that
the LEPI's implementation was not transparent and that the
government is trying to monopolize the process. They claimed that
the government is designing a "tailor-made voter registry" to ensure
Yayi's reelection in 2011. On November 23, Adrien Houngbedji (PRD),
the fiercest opponent of the LEPI, called on the population to
boycott the national census. A network of civil society
organizations (French: Front des Organisations de la Societe Civile
pour la LEPI - FORS-LEPI) has started extensive consultations with
political parties and the government in order to secure consensus
for the LEPI.


6. (SBU) Although the opposition sees the President's November 19
announcement as a response to its own critical November 17
statement, a government source told Post that the government has
planned the LEPI roll-out long before that date. A source from the

COTONOU 00000586 002 OF 002


Netherlands Embassy (the lead donor) said that opposition leaders
are frustrated because they are unable to control the LEPI as they
wished. He underlined that the opposition has representatives in the
Political Committee of Supervision (CPS),the body responsible for
monitoring and supervising the LEPI.


7. (SBU) COMMENT. The opposition's hardening objections to the LEPI
show that there is no broad-based political consensus, even though
opposition deputies in the National Assembly have initially approved
the LEPI. Financial and Technical Partners (FTPs) including Belgium,
Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, UNDP and the EU still believe
that the LEPI will be ready for the 2011 presidential election. Post
is exploring ways to support the implementation of the LEPI and to
assure that its implementation is politically neutral. END COMMENT.

KNIGHT