Opponents in prison in Benin: pressure without effect on Patrice Talon
Beninese opponents Joël Aïvo and Reckya Madougou were sentenced to heavy prison terms.
© Joël Aïvo - Personal archive / Erick Christian Ahounou- AFP
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1 min
"
I had the opportunity to put pressure firmly on the Beninese authorities
": the statement this Wednesday, January 12, by the head of French diplomacy Jean-Yves Le Drian to the National Assembly in Paris visibly resonated as far as Porto- New.
France therefore does not tolerate the detention and conviction of Reckya Madougou, nor, doubtless, that of Joël Aïvo.
The Beninese opponent and former Keeper of the Seals was sentenced in December to twenty years in prison for terrorism before a special court in Porto-Novo, the capital of Benin But, despite numerous pressures, the head of state, Patrice Talon, resist.
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Those close to Reckya Madougou affirm it: they got wind of exchanges between Patrice Talon and heavyweights in the sub-region, the heads of state of Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire well before the trial.
They even claim that a solution to free her before passing in front of the Criet had to be found.
In the end, nothing happened.
Reckya Madougou
and, before her,
Joêl Aïvo
received heavy sentences.
The most virulent, the United States accused the political power of interference vis-à-vis Beninese justice and decided to also stop economic cooperation projects.
This is obviously not the case in France.
In his statement, Jean-Yves Le Drian, requested by a deputy from his own majority, recalled that the State put pressure on Patrice Talon last November, during the visit of the President of Benin to Paris. Not sure that this official statement makes Patrice Talon tremble. The French Minister for Foreign Affairs added: “
By dint of talking about it, sometimes we have results
”. The lawyers of Reckya Madougou and Joël Aïvo are convinced of this. Incarcerated, their clients only reinforce their stature as political opponents.
The French pressures are very very discreet (...) Laporte the most appropriate exit, it will perhaps be to take measures of grace.
The president does not have to wait until August 1 and the commemoration of Independence Day to take this step.
He will soon celebrate his first year of re-election, he could take advantage of this moment to create a little more national cohesion.
You have noted, like me, that since December there has been an increase in terrorist attacks in the North.
Therefore, Benin absolutely needs national cohesion to be able to face...
Pressures on Patrice Talon: Francis Kpatindé, journalist and teacher at Sciences-Po Paris
Guillaume Thibault
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Benign
Patrice Talon
France
Jean-Yves Le Drian