Life in Benin is getting harder and harder. Prices have risen dramatically on the market and it is difficult for the Beninese to afford three meals a day. The authorities blamed the Coronavirus crisis, which did not prevent some trade unions from protesting against the persistent increase in the price of basic necessities on the Beninese market.
The soaring prices of basic necessities are a real concern for the people of Benin. Between poor rainfall, poor productivity and the Covid 19 crisis, people are wondering what could be the real factor behind this price rise. Faced with this persistent situation, the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Union Centres of Benin, with the support of six other trade union organisations, organised a large protest meeting on 18 February 2022 at the Cotonou Labour Exchange.
On this occasion, Anselme Amoussou, Secretary General of the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Benin (Csa-Benin) said that the current prices of basic necessities on the market are proof of the high cost of living in Benin. “Life has never been so expensive in Benin. The price of small fish at the market has risen to 15,000 francs in two years. Imported oil has risen from 500F/L to 1200F over the same period. Gari continues to taunt us today at 300F after reaching 500F in 2021. Four-stroke motorbikes that could be bought for 400,000 have risen to over 500,000 for no good reason. On a poster designed by the confederation, one could read that the price of maize has risen from 175F in 2016 to 296F in 2021, i.e. a 70% increase per kilogram, the price of tomatoes has risen from 262F to 541F, i.e. an increase of 107%, while oil has risen from 427F to 700F, etc
In addition, the Csa-Benin adds: ‘The price of 6kg and 12.5kg domestic gas has risen by 31% and 28% respectively. The tonne of cement has risen from 6,700 to 78,000 in some places. The price of a tonne of concrete reinforcing bar (bar of 8) rose from 492,500 CFA francs to 662,500 CFA francs, an increase of more than 170,000 CFA francs. The tonne of iron (bar 10) rose from 493,000 CFA francs to over 662,000 CFA francs, an increase of over 169,500 CFA francs. To all these products, we must add the new SBEE tariffs, which led to an increase in the price of electricity during the period “During this time, the price of adulterated petrol is fluctuating. Sometimes at 600 francs, sometimes at 475 francs.
The authorities speak out
On 29 December 2021, in his state of the nation address, the Head of State, Patrice Talon, spoke about the real reasons for the increase in prices of various products on the market. “How can we not, for example, observe that the current high cost of living is mainly due to the induced effects of the COVID-19 pandemic? He goes on to say: “We are feeling it, seriously, each in our own basket, even though customs duties, taxes and fees have not increased in our country and, moreover, the performance of our agriculture is remarkable, especially in terms of food production… we are victims of a global situation and it is the victorious fight against the pandemic that will mainly help to reverse this trend of high cost of living” For the government, this situation is solely due to the health crisis that hit the world in 2020.
Indeed, during a report of the Council of Ministers, the government spokesman, Léandre Wilfried Houngbédji, reassured the trade unions that prices have already started to fall. “The government has been active in prohibiting uncontrolled outflows of foodstuffs and more recently in imposing levies on road cords for our country’s neighbours,” a move that he believes will considerably lower the price of products.
Increase in poverty rate
In addition, this drastic rise in the price of consumer goods has led to an increase in the poverty rate. Six years ago, the poverty rate was around 33%. The country’s real GDP fell to 3.8% in 2020. Thus, the poverty rate has been reduced to 45.9% by 2020. Clearly, about 46 out of every 100 Beninese cannot live on 600 CFA francs a day. Nevertheless, there has been no increase in the salaries of civil servants, which does not balance the scales at all. Nevertheless, the authorities reassure the population that all measures are in place to find a solution to this situation.
