Benin president launches 'dialogue' without key opponents

• Benin's President Patrice Talon on Thursday launched a political "dialogue" to calm tensions.
• The West African nation has faced a political crisis since the parliamentary vote earlier this year.
• Benin has enjoyed a reputation as one of West Africa's most stable democracies.

COTONOU: Benin's President Patrice Talon on Thursday launched a political "dialogue" to calm tensions sparked by the opposition's exclusion from April elections, but his key foes remain in exile following a crackdown.

The West African nation has faced a political crisis since the parliamentary vote earlier this year that saw Talon's allies win all the seats as opposition groups were effectively banned.

The president invited nine political parties to the "dialogue" -- set to last until Saturday -- but key opposition groups have dismissed it as window dressing to mask the former business magnate's increasingly authoritarian rule.

Talon insisted the event was part of his "ongoing concern to involve political actors in the search for compromises to key issues", including participation in elections.

"Our meeting today, far from being a sign of any stress in our democracy, is akin to a check-up requirement when an unusually bad coughing fit occurs," he told participants.

Benin has enjoyed a reputation as one of West Africa's most stable democracies.

But deadly protests rocked the country following the disputed parliamentary vote as Amnesty International said "repression reached disturbing levels".

Talon -- a cotton mogul who came to power in 2016 -- has been accused of driving his leading challengers into exile with a series of trumped-up legal cases.

Several main opposition groups that were not invited to the official event were staging their own "counter dialogue" to protest against the president.

Talon's opponents have called for the return of exiled leaders, the release of his political foes and for all parties to be allowed to take part in elections.