Case ”Brother Hounvi”: Pandora's Box

After the Benin-Niger file, a crisis which has not yet finished delivering its share of suspense, this is another issue that shakes the socio-political life of Benin. The arrest of activist Steve Amoussou known by the famous nickname ”Brother Hounvi”. From the film of his arrest to the media release of his lawyer, including the predictions of the fâ, revelations are made every day on this affair, which it seems will make a lot of noise in the country. Especially since there is already talk of “moles” lurking in the mysteries of the power of rupture.

The famous “Brother Hounvi” has no longer been free to move since 12 August 2024, where he was arrested in Lomé, “kidnapped” according to his relatives and his lawyer, Aboubacar Baparapé. This last, during a media outing re-created the scene of his arrest in the streets of Adidogomè, a district of Lomé, Togolese capital. The man, slayer of the Talon regime, from his base of exile. Everything was going well for the young political activist. He had just spent a day in exile like all the others since he decided to go underground to be a critical voice denouncing what he considers to be the escapades of power.. He was far from imagining that he would no longer be able to produce his much appreciated columns near Cotonou.. It sounded approximately 22 Lomé hours, 23 hours in Cotonou, when men grab hold of him.
“While he had just had his evening meal, Steve Amoussou alias Hounvi who had left his house, buying an item from a lady in front of her home will be stopped by four individuals who, without declaring their identities, will carry out his kidnapping. » reports his lawyer, Me Aboubakar Baparapé at the microphone of our colleagues at Bip radio. Neighborhood efforts to thwart are in vain. “The man, perhaps the most sought-after political activist opposed to the Patrice Talon regime, is loaded into a black vehicle speeding away. From Lome, destination Cotonou. The kidnappers would have succeeded in deceiving the vigilance of the Togolese security forces by passing through circuitous routes to the Beninese-Togolese border at Hilacondji.. Already hooded, “Brother Hounvi” would have been covered with a loincloth during discreet passages through checkpoints” informs the man who is also the president of the Organization for the Defense of Human and Peoples’ Rights (ODHP). From then on, several voices began to rise to the occasion, who to denounce the conditions of his arrest, who to breathe a sigh of relief, believing “finally ! An embarrassing thorn has just been removed from the executive's foot" given the disturbing revelations that the famous brother Hounvi” put in topo.

Indicative paths

Since his arrest, it comes back with insistence that the famous “Brother Hounvi” is fed at the source. His informers are close collaborators of the Chefs. According to a stamped exclusivity “The Potential”, a Beninese daily, several executives of the Talon regime would inform him “ 2 former MPs, 3 senior directors “they would line up” of the info. In total 13 people would be in the crosshairs of investigators”. According to the same source “these senior directors even provided tendentious information which fueled several columns of the activist in police custody. Likewise there are four (4) department heads of key state structures who would also be points of contact for the young activist. In the same register, two personalities would have used numbers registered in the name of third parties to provide information to the columnist Brother Hounvi”. “Brother Hounvi” was not an extra-terrestrial. who are in the earth… I bring them back to life… It is a work of memory conservation that I do, this is what we understood the day after his arrest. Nor is he a gecko who breaks into the offices of members of the government. But Steve Amoussou has become this lizard who sneaks into the walls of the Palais de la Marina and even in all the convents of rupture nor the fly which sits at the same table as the decision-makers of the power in place. Architects guilty of wall cracks, risk big, the lizard now being in a cage. According to several sources, other hands will be handcuffed and people brought before the judges of the Court for the Repression of Economic Offenses and Terrorism (I shout) to certainly respond to leaks of sensitive information. The former MP and former minister, Valentin A Djènontin has paid the price in the past. in november 2019, the former collaborator of Thomas Boni Yayi, is sentenced to two years in prison with an arrest warrant and a fine of two million CFA francs for “theft and dissemination of administrative documents”. Valentin A Djènontin denounces relentlessness and political justice. He has lived in exile since this affair.

Between Reason and Passion, the reactions follow one another…

The alert of the arrest of Brother Hounvi” is given by Martin Rodriguez, a businessman, long opposed to the current Beninese Head of State. Then, his friends and acolytes took over. Only in the other direction, the aftershocks began to fly. The former Ortb journalist who became Srtb, God-thank you Kindoho a, For its part, puts the government of Patrice Talon on trial. He recalled in particular the circumstances of arrests of certain political figures in Benin. He particularly mentioned the cases of Joël Aïvo and Reckya Madougou. He said he wasn't really surprised by what happened.. On his side, Richard Ouorou asked the authorities to show clarity. “Following the supposed arrest of our compatriot and activist, brother Hounvi, I would like to speak to you in these moments of great emotion. It is essential to remember that in a true democracy, transparency and respect for everyone’s rights are essential,” wrote Richard Boni Ouorou. In another post, “he drew the parallel between the situation of Steve Amoussou and that recently denounced by the Beninese opponent Appolinaire Avognon. The latter declared that he had narrowly missed an arrest” reports La Nouvelle Tribune. From outrage to a call for opposition forces to unite, The Popular Liberation Movement (MPL) immediately issued a statement to position itself on this affair which is making headlines like the truculent verbal flights of “Brother Hounvi”. “The Popular Liberation Movement (MPL) expresses deep shock and indignation following the arrest of the political activist known as Brother Hounvi. “We strongly condemn this arrest which raises concerns about respect for fundamental human rights” we read in this declaration signed by the President of the Mpl. “The opposition forces must respect with all responsibility the commitment and the promise made to restore the vitality of our democracy, stop exclusion, source of post-election violence, obtain a rereading of the crisogenic laws, which it seems are still included in the chapter postponement of the Greek calendars. » says Experiment A. Thebes. Call followed by “The Democrats”, only opposition party represented in the National Assembly of Benin. Denunciation, indignation, disapproval and fear. This is what emerges from their party press statement made public on Tuesday 13 August 2024 by Guy Dossou Mitokpè, national communications secretary of the party. Qualifying the arrest of the columnist and activist “Brother Hounvi” “kidnapping”, parts “The Democrats” says it condemns this arrest in the strongest terms and points the finger at the responsibility of the Beninese government for what it describes as “an act of great infamy”. For the opposition party, this act “resembles an orchestrated repressive maneuver”. The political party demands from President Patrice Talon an “immediate clarification on the circumstances” of the activist’s arrest” and promises “to shed light on this matter and ensure the protection of our fellow citizens engaged in the fight for democracy and the rule of law », declared Guy Dossou Mitokpè, national communications secretary of the party.

What about the reaction of those close to power?

Loth Houénou, ex-opponent who became a movement leader for some time did not hesitate to give lessons to the unfortunate “Brother Hounvi” and his supporters. “I feel sorry for this boy. He'd better apologize to the Chief. For it is God who establishes the leaders” teaches Loth Houénou, supporting bible verse, in an audio on social networks. Recalling his case, Loth Houénou mentions the unenviable conditions of prisons and invites the activist to make honorable amends in order to regain his freedom as soon as possible. He even notes that Guy Mitokpè, national secretary for communications of the Opposition Party could be questioned to provide clarifications on certain allegations of the accused ''Brother Hounvi'' given that the latter used a nickname to insult the authority of Benin that is the president of the Republic. Officially, the executive has already spoken, at least through the voice of its spokesperson. During a recent media outing, government spokesman, gave his point of view on the columnist’s activism, even before his arrest. Indeed, Wilfried Léandre Houngbédis spoke on various current issues with media professionals, Friday 9 august 2024. During this meeting, online, he expressed all his admiration for Steve Amoussou alias “Brother Hounvi.” “I love his pen, I think it has quality” he declared before deploring the content of his columns. “I will applaud him with all hands and feet if, Unfortunately, his pen was not dipped in the ink of slander and slander, often to cause a sensation, to create a buzz », explains Wilfried Léandre Houngbédi, in comments reported by La Météo. The kiss of Judas some say since a few days later, the activist will be put under fire.

Reaction of a warned

In the batch of reactions, we note that of Appolinaire Akoutodji, a graduate of the National School of Administration and Magistracy of Benin and the Faculty of Law and Political Science of Abomey-Calavi. He made a video in which he explained the legal and legislative contours of the arrest of the famous columnist “Brother Hounvi” on Togolese territory by supposed “infiltrators”.. To those who consider the operation of the arrest of “Brother Hounvi” illegal, Apollinaire Akoutodji invites them to consult the law 2016-021 of 24 August 2016 on the status of refugees in Togo and the law 2022-31 of 20 December 2022 which sets the conditions for obtaining refugee status in Benin. In addition to these two texts cited, the specialist also invites us to examine the Geneva Convention of 28 July 1951. This law, he indicates, mentioned in his article 2, duties and obligations of someone who has refugee status. “When you take the item 4 of the law 2022-21 of 22 December 2022 bearing refugee status in Benin, the article 4 specifies that you do not have the right to refugee status and you cannot claim to be a refugee even if you have a refugee card if you are being prosecuted for criminal or penal offenses or if you are convinced that proceedings are against you for acts that you have committed”, he detailed.

Who is the “Brother Hounvi” ?

Legend has it that his name is Steve Amoussou, professional journalist, well it was and remains so why not, because a journalist one day, journalist forever they say. Though, the man always remains clinging to the pen, on paper and on microphone with an editorial line : reveal the affairs that embarrass the government of the rupture. He holds very sensitive state files such as the steaming corn dough dishes cooked by Madame Talon. Curious thing, before the Chef even smells it, the “Brother Hounvi” like a wall has its ears everywhere and even its eyes everywhere. He is the one who informs everything. Member of Sébastien Adjavon's communications unit, unsuccessful presidential candidate 2016, exiled since, the ”Brother Hounvi” is a master in the art of almost suicidal revelations. Certainly aware of the risks he runs, he had to leave Benin to seek asylum in Togo, neighboring country to the west of Benin. This is only without taking into account the determination of the police who were able to locate him and bring him back to the fold willingly or by force on Monday 12 august 2024. Moreover, the accuracy and precision of some of his information left people speechless, that many were wondering, how did he do it ? Where or from whom did he get his peanuts of convent information ?

When metaphysics gets involved
That's the total in this matter. A publication by journalist Adoukonou adds its share of consideration to the file and speaks of the fulfillment of a prophecy of the real Hounsi Dakpè Sossou following the Vodun days, six (06) months after the organization of the festival dedicated to this purpose. We read “The Beninese still remember our editorial from 24 January 2024 in which we analyzed the vigorous response of the honorary vice-president of the National Assembly, MP Dakpè Sossou, guarantor of tradition, which firmly forbids the uninitiated (oh) Steve Amoussou alias “Brother Hounvi” not to drag down the reputation of our vodoun and the great gala offered to them, the “vodun days”, in the mud ; and prophesied. » he recalls with enthusiasm with the mention “The arcane TULA-GBÉ, could not be more specific in the matter “Brother Hounvi”, its exposure, in broad daylight, that when he warns kpédjélécoun not to dare try to expose the underside of the sea otherwise it is its roots which will be revealed to the face of the world” points out Adoukonou, such an active journalist on the web. “The hasty and threatening intervention of the economic operator Matin Rodriguez a few hours after the arrest of the ghostly character “brother Hounvi” is also the extension of the metaphysical work of the vodoun pantheon which reveals one of its probable employers. » he concludes.
" Today, Brother Hounvi arrested in Togo, is kept at the Economic and Financial Brigade. He will be presented to the CRIET special prosecutor this Monday 19 August 2024 » we learn.

Arnaud ACAKPO (Coll)