Following a protest staged by trade unions over the cost of living, Police in Benin on Saturday fired tear gas to break the protest and arrested several senior union figures.
Armed police blocked access to the labour council in the commercial capital Cotonou, surrounding the area where the demonstration was meant to take place and turning away journalists.
Moudassirou Bachabi, who heads the General Confederation of Workers of Benin (CGTB), and Anselme Amoussou, head of union CSA-Benin, were arrested alongside 16 other demonstrators, according to CGTB deputy general secretary Anita Bossoukpe.
Appolinaire Affewe, the head of a confederation of unions, also said Amoussou, Bachabi and others had been arrested. Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the police cannot be reached to comment at press time.
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