Power Outage During Constitutional Revision Sparks Constitutional Crisis in Benin
COTONOU – A constitutional challenge has been filed against two of Benin’s top officials following a power outage that disrupted a crucial parliamentary session on constitutional reform, raising fundamental questions about infrastructure reliability and democratic processes in the West African nation.
Legal Action Targets Assembly President and Energy Chief
In an unprecedented legal move, Benin’s Constitutional Court received a formal appeal on November 19, 2025, targeting National Assembly President Louis Vlavonou and SBEE Director General Hyppolite Ebagnitchie. The action stems from electricity failures during the November 14-15 plenary session dedicated to revising the country’s constitution.
The plaintiff, prominent lawyer Judicaël Glele Akpokpo, characterized the power interruption as “legally problematic” in his filing, noting it occurred at a critical legislative moment. The legal challenge accuses both officials of failing to implement emergency measures to ensure the continuity of the democratic process.
Constitutional Obligations Under Scrutiny
The case centers on two key constitutional provisions. First, Article 35 of Benin’s Constitution requires public officials to demonstrate “conscience, competence, integrity, dedication and loyalty” in their duties. Second, the legal action asserts that the Benin Electric Energy Company (SBEE) bears constitutional responsibility to guarantee uninterrupted power supply to critical state institutions, particularly during landmark legislative proceedings.
“This isn’t merely about technical failure,” explains Dr. Amadou Bello, a constitutional law professor at the University of Abomey-Calavi who was not involved in the case. “The legal question becomes whether infrastructure reliability constitutes part of the constitutional duty to protect democratic institutions. A power failure during constitutional revision could be interpreted as a failure of the state’s protective function.”
Broader Implications for Democratic Governance
The case arrives at a sensitive political moment as Benin continues its democratic consolidation. The constitutional revision process itself represents a fundamental exercise of national sovereignty, making any disruption potentially significant beyond the immediate inconvenience.
Regional governance experts note that the outcome could establish important precedents for infrastructure accountability across West Africa. “Many nations in the region struggle with energy reliability,” observes Kemi Lawson, director of the West Africa Governance Initiative. “This case elevates the discussion from technical management to constitutional obligation, potentially redefining what citizens can expect from their governments regarding basic service delivery during critical democratic moments.”
Remedies Sought and Potential Outcomes
The petitioner requests that the Constitutional Court formally recognize constitutional violations by both officials and recommend establishing permanent backup power systems for key institutions during important legislative sessions. Such a ruling could mandate significant infrastructure investments and contingency planning requirements for future high-stakes parliamentary activities.
Energy sector analysts note that while power outages remain common across much of West Africa, the constitutional context distinguishes this case. “The SBEE faces operational challenges familiar to many African utilities,” says energy infrastructure specialist Jean Adékambi. “But this legal action reframes those challenges as potential constitutional breaches when they affect core democratic functions.”
The Constitutional Court’s decision, expected in the coming weeks, will determine whether infrastructure reliability constitutes an enforceable constitutional requirement for democratic governance in Benin.
This report was developed using information from Benin Web TV’s original coverage as its primary source.