Stop thinking about yourself, Mr President
- Hubert Tomèga
- Dec 30, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: May 17, 2025
Hundreds of women gathered in several organizations were on the streets of Cotonou yesterday, Tuesday, February 20, 2018. Objective, walk on the palace of the marina to inform "their child", the head of state, of the economic situation very gloomy in their opinion. Although the women were not able to walk on the presidency because of the security mechanism set up to block their route, these organizations of the second sex think they have passed on their message.
Shopping basket, pots, pans and other kitchen utensils in hand, symbol of the economic moribund in the country. Benin flag deployed, sign of attachment to the homeland. Cries and slogans hostile to power, clocked by various traditional rhythms. These are the ways chosen by market women, craftsmen, workers, civil servants, retirees, widows, employees of public and private enterprises, housewives and many others from various backgrounds in the country to tell their ' child Talon', They are hungry. "We have come this morning to respectfully tell you to stop thinking about yourself and the people of Benin, to think about the women of this country, victims of your politics.
An obstructed step ten thirty midnight.
Women’s mobilization is great at the front of the labor exchange. The cries and dances against the government of the rupture and the prefect Modeste Toboula are heard. On the various roads leading to the mobilization site, a horde of elements of the republican police blocks the passage to all means of transport. Motorists are forced to make other roads, while cyclists and motorcyclists drag their gear.
Eleven o'clock. The crowd is advancing towards the men in uniform on the road between the Bourse du travail and Carrefour Soneb. It becomes impossible to pass. Heavy equipment (tear gas vehicles, patrol...) of the public security forces block the path. Engage in exchanges between the present police hierarchy and the heads of women’s organizations. After two minutes of trading, the result is unsuccessful. No agreement between the former departmental director of the Atlantic-Littoral National Police, Kossi SEDOHOUN and Thérèse Waounwa, ardent combatant of union struggles and Augustine Sosoukpè, Deputy Secretary General of the Confederation of Workers of Benin, Cstb. Quickly, the security system was strengthened on the road leading to the Presidency of the republic. Women forced to turn around.
Eleven thirty. The women decide to walk differently. They bypass the roundabout in front of the labor exchange. Eight to ten rounds are made following dance, cries hostile to the power, rhythmized by the sound of spoons on pans in hands.
Twelve o'clock. Women return to the labour market. It is time to read the motion on women’s grievances, which is the subject of the march. After thanking the women’s organizations that made the trip, Thérèse Waounwa, spokesperson for the participants, promises to return to the streets in the next few days, for a more eventful march. The women were not able to walk on the presidency of the republic, she admits, but that does not mean that the march was aborted, she said.
Clearly expressed demands
Six complaints are registered in the demand book of women’s organizations that ask for resolution to the Head of State. These are the resettlement and compensation of people removed from public spaces, the reduction of taxes and fees on markets for artisans and craftspeople, the cessation of liquidation of state enterprises, the equipment of health centers, the resolution of teachers' problems and the granting of university scholarships and aid to students, and finally, the end of political prosecutions and detentions in this case Laurent Metongnon and his co-defendants.
After this march, it remains to be hoped that the complaints of these women’s organizations will be followed up favourably.
Par Hubert Tomèga
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