Benin holds local elections without leading opposition parties

Benin authority has held local elections without leading opposition parties.

This comes as authorities pushed ahead with the vote despite concerns over the coronavirus pandemic and calls for a delay.

This week, the country lifted a series of restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the virus, which has so far sickened 339 people and caused two deaths.

However, voter turnout had appeared to have suffered, observers noted after the closure of the polls for control of 77 councils across the country.

Benin has been mired in a political crisis since a disputed parliamentary poll in April last year sparked protests.