By RFIPosted on 26-12-2019Changed on 26-12-2019 at 22:52

In Burkina Faso, the Franco-Beninese activist was found in contempt of heads of state after three hours of trial. Arrested on December 21, he was accused of having insulted the presidents of Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast, Niger and France. But for Kémi Séba, this trial was further proof that African leaders are receiving orders from France.

Kémi Séba was given a two-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 200,000 CFA francs. According to the prosecutor, it is not the fight of Kémi Séba that is called into question, but his remarks made during the conference at Joseph Ki-Zerbo University. By calling the presidents of Burkina Faso " colander or robot ", Nigerien " crazy ", Ivorian " dramatic " and French " small or puppeteer " the activist has, according to the prosecution, exceeded the limits.

While defending himself , Kémi Séba took the opportunity to once again express his position vis-à-vis relations between France and its ex-colonies. “ I have absolutely no regrets about what I said and I take responsibility for every word. Each letter. As long as our presidents continue to receive orders from French neocolonial forces, there will be an African youth who will take responsibility, no matter the price to pay. "

For Prosper Farama, the holding of this trial is a decline in freedom of expression in Burkina Faso. “ The regime in place today takes us back thirty years. Thirty years ago, you couldn't say what you wanted from President Compaoré. Thirty years ago, you had to look left and right before speaking. Let him understand that it will not continue. The symbol of this trial is that they want us to retreat, but the African youth, the people of Burkina Faso will not accept this kind of retreat. "

According to Kémi Séba and his lawyer, this trial is one of the consequences of the French president's injunctions to African heads of state to reframe their public opinion.

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