Benin Police Fire Tear Gas To Break Up Union Protest

Sumaira FH Published April 27, 2024 | 03:10 PM

Cotonou, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Apr, 2024) Benin police on Saturday fired tear gas to break up a protest organised by labour unions in the economic capital Cotonou over high living costs, an AFP correspondent at the scene said.

Small groups of protesters had gathered at the protest site, which was cordoned off by squads of police who fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators.

"I came here to march against the high cost of living," trader Ariane Assilamehou told AFP at the protest.

"But you see police rushing towards (us) and firing tear gas."

Protesters chanted the national anthem during the clashes.

CSA Benin, one of the country's largest unions, said on X, formerly Twitter, that its leader Anselme Amoussou had been taken away by police.

A union source said a dozen other protesters had been arrested. Police did not immediately issue a statement about the incident.

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