Transparency and Integrity of the Electoral Processes in Benin

The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) aims to support young African leaders in their efforts to stimulate growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and improve peace and security in Africa. Initially, it consisted in a series of high-level forums, including the Obama Forum with Young Africanleaders in August 2010, the African Young Pioneers in June 2011, and the Summit on Innovation and Partnership for the Mentoring of Young African Leaders held in June 2012, in addition to some two thousand (2,000) youth activities that took place in US embassies across the African continent. Building on the success of these events, YALI has expanded into three major programs: the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, the YALI Network, and the YALI Regional Leadership Centers. Electoral integrity proves to be an ideal desired by all in different election cycles, but it cannot be taken for granted, a priori, whatever the mechanisms devised to ensure it. To date, claiming that an election has been fully free and fair while referring to the various elements contributing to its transparency and integrity isa seemingly impossible challenge.