African news : breaking news, features, analysis

Voting is underway at 13, 539 polling stations  in Benin to elect a successor to President Yayi Boni who has finished his mandatory two terms in office.

Although there are no security at most of the polling stations, voting which started at 7am is going on smooth.

There are 33 candidates contesting to lead the country.

Foreign and local observers especially from ECOWAS and judges and magistrates from Benin are monitoring the election which will end at 4pm.

Whiles some polling stations have been set outside in the open, there are others which are in enclosed areas like classrooms.

A voter admiring his A3 sized ballot paper before casting his vote