Benin Expels EU Ambassador After Accusing Him of ‘Interference’
Benin Expels EU Ambassador After Accusing Him of ‘Interference’
Benin has given the head of the European Union delegation until Dec. 1 to leave the country, after accusing him of meddling in state politics, according to a statement from the presidency.
The decision was made on Nov. 20 to expel the diplomat, Olivier Nette, for “interference in internal affairs,” the office of President Patrice Talon said in its statement. A spokeswoman for the European Union in Benin’s capital, Cotonou, declined to comment when contacted by phone.
The West African nation is facing political tensions since the April 28 parliamentary poll in which only two parties loyal to Talon were allowed to run. As a result, the Republican Bloc and the Progressive Union roughly split the National Assembly’s 83 seats, making it easy for the president to push through legislative changes.
To contact the reporter on this story: Virgile Ahissou in Accra at vahissou@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Andre Janse van Vuuren at ajansevanvuu@bloomberg.net, Yinka Ibukun
©2019 Bloomberg L.P.