PORTO-NOVO - Benin was voting for a new president on Sunday, with Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni a shoo-in after overseeing a decade of economic growth in the west African country despite jihadist attacks in the north.
Nearly eight million voters are eligible to cast ballots to choose a successor to Patrice Talon, who is stepping down after two five-year terms and has endorsed Wadagni as his successor.
Turnout will be a crucial factor after a lacklustre campaign hit by voter apathy.
"We must vote to ensure a high turnout," said Yvan Glidja, a man in his 30s who turned up early at a school-turned-polling station in the commercial capital Cotonou to vote for Wadagni.
Whereas Wadagni cast his vote to little fanfare in his southwestern home town of Lokossa, crowds of clapping supporters and cameras greeted Talon as he arrived to do the same in Cotonou's business district of Zongo.
"The best is to come for Benin. My wish is to see a great and powerful Benin in which everyone finds their place," Talon said on emerging from the poll booth.
He added he intended to "retire" and would not seek to "influence" his successor, but said that "it is illusory to think that one can fade into the background".
- 'Disgruntled' -
Backed by the two main ruling parties, Wadagni is being challenged by Paul Hounkpe, an opposition figure whose campaign has been very low-key and who needed help from majority lawmakers to secure the required parliamentary endorsements to get on the ballot.
The main opposition The Democrats party is not fielding a candidate as its leader, Renaud Agbodjo, failed to secure the required number of parliamentary endorsements needed to contest the vote.
"I won't go and vote, this election is not inclusive. You cannot talk about genuine democratic competition when some key political players are barred," said Arnold Dessouassi, a 39-year-old teacher.
The ruling majority blames The Democrats' exclusion on internal divisions. Several senior figures in the party joined Wadagni's campaign.
"The disgruntled haven't disappeared. Tensions and frustration remain high; their electoral hopes have been slaughtered," said political analyst Rufin Godjo, speaking of voters.
The European Union, the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have all sent substantial teams of poll monitors.
"We hope a maximum of Beninese will come out to make their choice today," Nana Akufo-Addo, a former Ghanaian president heading the ECOWAS delegation, told AFP.
- Golden decade -
Benin's next elections will only take place in 2033, as a constitutional reform passed last year has extended the presidential term from five to seven years and synchronised all elections to take place then.
A key question for many is the next president's approach to civil liberties after the authoritarian turn taken by Talon, with many opponents handed heavy sentences for various crimes.
Hounkpe meanwhile has promised to release "political prisoners".
The country has seen burgeoning growth during the Talon decade: GDP has doubled, growth has surpassed six percent each year, tourism has expanded and numerous infrastructure projects have been completed.
As the architect of this development from his 10 years at the finance ministry, Wadagni embodies continuity.
But major challenges remain, including a huge gap between the haves and the have-nots.
"The next phase of the country's development will be the eradication of extreme poverty. That is one of his priorities," said one of Wadagni's close associates.
The poverty rate is estimated at more than 30 percent with many Beninese complaining that the benefits of growth, much dependent on delivering security, have not reached them.
Benin's north is plagued by increasingly deadly jihadist violence spilling over from the insecurity-ridden Sahel region.
If elected, Wadagni is expected to be able to count on the loyalty of the army, which played a decisive role in repelling an attempted coup against Talon in December.
By Pierre Donadieu