United Democratic Forces (Benin)

The United Democratic Forces (French: Forces Démocratiques Unies, FDU) is a political alliance in Benin led by Mathurin Nago.

History

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In response to president Yayi Boni's potential constitution change to allow him to run for a third term, Nago left the Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin. The FDU was established on 9 February 2015 as an alliance of the Union for Progress and Democracy, Impulse for a New Vision of the Republic, the Party for Progress and Democracy and the Party for Democracy and Solidarity,[1] all of which had previously been part of the Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin.[2]

The alliance won four seats in the 2015 parliamentary elections.[3] The FDU is known for advocating for democratic reform and human rights in Benin. In recent years the FDU had faced challanges related to political repression and restrictions on opposition parties, as noted in a 2022 human rights report. These challenges have included limitations on political freedoms, including the arrest of opposition figures and restrictions on media freedoms.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Mathurin Coffi Nago lance l'alliance Forces Démocratiques Unies ORTB
  2. ^ Birth of the United Democratic Forces alliance: Mathurin Nago launches his political machine La Nation, 16 March 2015
  3. ^ Les FCBE arrivent en tête du scrutin législatif avec 32 sièges 24 Heures, 2 May 2015
  4. ^ "Benin". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2024-08-19.