Benin has become one of the few countries in Africa to authorize abortion, after parliamentarians voted on a law that has divided public opinion in the coastal nation.

Abortions were previously authorized in the country if the pregnancy “threatened the life of the mother”, was “the result of a rape or incest” or when “the unborn child has a particularly severe infection”.

After a heated debate in parliament, with some lawmakers strongly opposed to legalizing abortion further, the amendment finally passed.

Under the new text, abortion “can be authorized” within the first three months if it is likely to “aggravate or cause material, educational, professional or moral distress, incompatible with the woman or the unborn child’s interest”.

Several countries in Africa have total bans on abortion, including Congo-Brazzaville, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal.

In Benin, “nearly 200 women die each year as the result of abortion complications”, said health Minister Benjamin Hounkpatin in a statement recently.

Further speaking on the issue, the health Minister said: “This measure will be a relief for many women who face undesired pregnancies, and are forced to put their lives in danger with botched abortions”.

The Minister said that complications from abortions were the cause of 20 percent of maternal deaths in the country.

“It is because of this public health threat that the government has taken its responsibilities by submitting a text that lawmakers have passed”.

He said the new measure’s “unique goal” was to “save human lives” and that “voluntary termination of pregnancies will remain a last resort”.

Meanwhile, the influential Episcopal Conference of Benin noted that it was “highly preoccupied by the proposed law to legalize abortions”.

“Abortion not only destroys the life of the fetus but also that of the mother, in many aspects”, the religious group said in a statement, adding that “honest and reliable alternatives” exist.

Opinions were divided after the vote

Feminist activist, Faustine Adjagba, agreeing with the legalization of abortion in Benin said it was a good move.

“We have to let women chose freely whether or not to have a child. And we have to protect women from all these charlatans and fake abortion providers that flourish in our towns and villages”.

However, Alphonsine Goudalo, who heads a non-profit organization, said she was outraged and “very disappointed that an entire parliament came to such a conclusion”.