Nigerian journalist jailed in Benin on charges that don’t hold
The continued detention of Nigerian YouTube-based travel journalist Mathew Ojoduma exposes how counterterrorism laws in Benin are being stretched to criminalise legitimate journalism.
Security of political refugee journalists under threat
Journalist Comlan Hugues Sossoukpè’s forced extradition to Benin, despite his recognised refugee status in Togo, exposes the fragility of international protections.
Beninese journalist jailed over critical reporting
The arrest of journalist Cosme Hounsa over “harassment by electronic means” charges raises concerns about the Benin government’s use of criminal prosecution to silence critical reporting.
Exiled Beninese journalist forcibly repatriated from Togo
Exiled journalist Comlan Hugues Sossoukpè was secretly extradited to Benin, where he now faces terrorism-related charges in a case echoing a pattern of cross-border abductions and repression.
Beninese digital activist jailed for online criticism
The sentencing of Steve Amoussou has sparked concern over the growing use of anti-terror legislation to silence government critics.
Benin’s regulator suspends 6 media outlets
“Authorities should focus on preserving and expanding freedom of information in Benin and not impose undue restrictions that can have a troubling effect on the entire profession” – CPJ.
Editorial independence of newsrooms in Benin undermined
Reporting of news on the country’s public broadcaster is being tightly managed and controlled by personnel from the president’s office and three ministries.
Media outlets in Benin and Burkina Faso suspended
In separate incidents Benin’s media regulator has indefinitely suspended the operations of ‘La Gazette du Golfe’, while ‘Radio Oméga’ in Burkina Faso is off the air.
Benin: Former journalist jailed over Facebook post released
Aziz Imorou was detained after he published a Facebook article in which he reported an alleged act of aggression against himself by a bodyguard of a government official.
Benin’s closure of online media outlets seen as muzzling of media
Benin’s media regulator has been criticised for a directive ordering the closure of non-compliant online media outlets.
West African media organisations petition ACHPR Special Rapporteur on Ignace Sossou release
The Media Foundation for West Africa and 15 partner organisations have written to the ACHPR Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information to intervene in the case of imprisoned Beninese journalist Ignace Sossou.
Accurate reporting lands Beninese journalist in jail
More than 120 media outlets and West African journalists have signed on to an op-ed calling for the release of Beninois journalist Ignace Sossou, detained for over two months.
Beninese journalist gets suspended sentence and fine
Fingering a French businessman for alleged tax evasion has resulted in Beninese journalist Ignace Sossou receiving a suspended one-month prison sentence and a fine of 550,000 CFA francs (US$850).
Media and FoE crackdown in Benin intensifies over 2 week period
In an intensified crackdown on freedom of expression and media freedom in Benin, 2 protestors were killed, a journalist arrested and detained and the internet temporarily shutdown.