- At a meeting with church leaders in northern Benin at the weekend, President Thomas Boni Yayi said his failed assassination attempt was carried out by enemies of his policy to flush out official graft policy.
The convoy of the Beninese President was shot at while on a legislative elections campaign tour in the northern part of the capital Cotonou last Thursday. Unknown gunmen released shots on a vehicle they thought was carrying the Beninese President.
No one got injured in the attack.
The attack has stimulated the country's defence ministry to embark on a large-scale investigation. So far six suspects have been arrested.
The Beninese President was confident that some people wanted to assassinate him purposely to dampen his battle against corruption. But he said since corruption is milking away the economy of Benin, he will neither retreat nor surrender in the fight to chase entrenched corruption.
His party is expected to do well in the Sunday polls.
Mr Yayi, a newcomer in politics, last year took over power from President Mathieu Kérékou who had ruled Benin for 33 years. Mr Kérékou's high age and constitutional two-term limit excluded him from the last year's race.
The new Beninese President is a former banker whose electoral campaign promises centred on how to crack down on official corruption as well as better the lives of inhabitants of the West African country, which suffers from a high level of unemployment and poverty.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.