In the News: Ignace Sossou's release

Audio 04:09

By: Frédéric Couteau Follow

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“  My state of mind is that of someone who has just spent six months in prison. The prison is not a palace. I tried to adapt.  Now, "  I'm going to speak to my boss, who certainly has a project for me." Otherwise, I start writing like any good journalist.  "

These are the first words of Ignace Sossou, upon leaving the Cotonou civil prison yesterday Wednesday. Remarks reported by the Beninese news site Banouto .

The Beninese journalist had been “  condemned , recalls La Nouvelle Tribune , for having published tweets on statements by the prosecutor of the Cotonou court. He was accused of having misinterpreted them. He had been sentenced at first instance to 18 months in prison for "harassment by means of electronic communication" . He had obtained a remission of sentence after his appeal trial.  "

Politically incorrect…

In fact, specifies L'Observateur Paalga in Ouagadougou , "  Sossou's misfortunes begin when, during a seminar organized by CFI, he relays on his Facebook and Twitter pages the remarks of the prosecutor Mario Métonou, who are rather critical of vis-à-vis the attitude of the Beninese power on freedom of expression. "The internet outage on (legislative) election day on April 28 is an admission of weakness on the part of those in power," said the prosecutor, who did not deny that. Comments taken out of context, swears the magistrate who drags the Benin Web TV employee to the bar for digital harassment. An offense which, according to the prosecution, caused "emotional distress" to the complainant. In reality, advanced Observer, the applicant must have realized afterwards the severity of his words, a politically incorrect to judge of his rank who moreover hierarchical relationships with the Chancery. Everything therefore happened as if he had beaten his guilt on the chest of the poor journalist who was not the only one to publish the extracts in question.  "

Journalist: a high-risk job in Benin

Comment from the Country , still in Burkina: “  This rediscovered freedom of Ignace Sossou is a sigh of relief for his corporation but also and above all for all the defenders of freedom of expression.

That said , continues the Burkinabe daily, while waiting for Ignace Sossou to pick up the pen, his prolonged detention in prison must prompt reflection on the conditions for exercising the profession of journalist in Benin. Because, everything suggests that journalism has become a high-risk profession in this country. Certainly, for the Beninese authorities, the journalist was convicted for an offense under ordinary law. But no one is fooled , says Le Pays. Everything suggests that he could have paid for his strong positions vis-à-vis the power of Patrice Talon who shows himself more and more hostile to criticism.  "

Today, another daily from Ouagadougou , drives the point home: "  Politically, Benin has regressed, the democratic beacon of the sub-region has become pallid, because when elections are held without the opposition, while removing the main opponent , Sébastien Ajavon, by the sword of justice, (again!); by an exile, while phagocytizing parties formerly of the opposition which become rump formations, it should not be astonished that justice takes a coloring of this kind.  "

Morocco: Omar Radi summoned by police

And then again about press freedom: in Morocco: "  The investigative journalist Omar Radi is summoned by the police  ", points out Le Monde Afrique .

"  Omar Radi, journalist and human rights activist, was sentenced earlier this year in Morocco for a Tweet criticizing the justice of his country,  " recalls Le Monde Afrique . And “  two days ago, Amnesty International published a report highlighting the responsibility of the Moroccan state in spying on the journalist. His cell phone had been hacked through a sophisticated computer attack. According to Amnesty's technical findings, only the Moroccan state was capable of carrying out this attack.  "

For the authorities, if Omar Radi is summoned by the police, it is because he is "  involved in a case of obtaining financing from abroad, in relation to intelligence services.  "

 The journalist described the accusation as "  ridiculous ". "  My summons is clearly linked to recent Amnesty International revelations that my phone was spied on by the Moroccan authorities," he said. I'm not afraid of anything, I'm going there with my head held high , continues Omar Radi. My goal is to reveal through my journalism the injustices and the real reality of Morocco, and to campaign for a better Morocco as an activist.  "

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