Conviction of Aïvo and Madougou : 2023 and 2026 already played ?

The past week is that of two expected trials. These are the trials of opponents Reckya Madougou and Joël Aïvo. Two personalities who wanted to run for the supreme magistracy but who found themselves accused of breaches of peace in Benin. Two trials that have caught the attention and where the future of the political debate of the two upcoming elections has perhaps already been played out.

Mass has finally been said for the two opponents, Reckya Madougou and Joël Aïvo.. The former Minister of Justice was found accountable for the facts of complicity in an act of terrorism and sentenced in the early morning of 11 December 2021 at 20 years of criminal imprisonment and 50 million CFA francs in fines. The professor is guilty of the facts of money laundering and conspiracy against the security of the State. He was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment and 45 million CFA francs in fines. Obviously the two denied the facts of which they are accused at the bar. More, this did not prevent their condemnation.

Two identical trials

These two trials have almost the same plot : politics. Both cases are political or at least the nature of these two trials concerns a political object and political actors. And so, it's not about common law cases. The main cause of these two cases is the dispute over the presidential election in April 2021. So, it is not stripped of all foundation to say that these two trials are political trials. Moreover, the outcome of these two cases also influences the political future of two personalities who are in their fifties. What denotes,  that they have their political future, and principle, in front of them. Unfortunately,  with this condemnation, Reckya Madougou nor Joël Aïvo who planned to apply for the legislative elections of 2023 and the presidential 2026 now have the obligation to put on hold this desire to participate in these two electoral contests. Because they are no longer eligible.

Convictions and the political thaw

Joël Aïvo and Reckya Madougou and other political exiles have become symbols of a kind of political malaise. And the question that torments people's minds is that the condemnation of these two personalities does not call into question the desire to move towards a thaw in the political atmosphere that has prevailed in the country since the legislative elections in 2019 ? We are tempted to answer in the affirmative.. May you remember that ex-president Yayi Boni and his successor Patrice Talon met on Wednesday 22 September 2021, at the Marina Palace in Cotonou. After the meeting between the two men, everything seemed to take shape that the pipe of peace will be smoked for the good of all. And for good reason, this encounter is the sign that Yayi Boni has now grasped the outstretched hand that he could not without looking like a traitor in the eyes of all those who fought alongside him. But when he left the audience, he had insisted on the release of all political detainees for a return to national communion. "President Talon and I took a tour of peace issues, of security, democracy and development in our country. We agreed that political relaxation is essential for lasting peace in our common city in order to ensure our living together, concord and national cohesion. This is not a TALON-YAYI affair but the question is rather knowing what to do so that our fellow citizens enjoy the joy, the pleasure and consensus to face the internal and external challenges and shocks that the country continues to face, in particular during the electoral consultations over the past three years. In this perspective, the following national salvation measures should be taken as soon as possible: End all political and public arrests to allow all of our compatriots who have recently taken refuge abroad to return home. Release all political detainees, including our compatriots, Minister Reckya Madougou and Professor Joël Aïvo, candidates who failed in the last presidential election., he posted on his official Facebook page before adding "Draw on the appropriate institutional arsenal in order to promote the return without delay to the motherland of all political exiles, whether convicted or not. The most famous are known Ladies and Gentlemen Fatoumata Djibril, Sebastien Ajavon, Komi Koutche,  Valentin Djenontin, Lehady soglo, Simplice Codjo, Leonce Houngbadji, etc. Institutionalize periodic consultation with Former Presidents and other wise men from civil society to prevent any crisis likely to call our democracy into question, peace and our living together within our Community”. And as President Boni Yayi was able to hammer home well in his time, “It is up to President Talon to urgently take a historic and patriotic decision for the good of the Nation., the general interest, which will allow, to the daughters and sons of Benin, to bring their stones to the building of our Great and Beautiful country. Finally,  Dialogue to prevent deaths is better than waiting for the dead before dialogue ».

Presidential pardon or amnesty, the solution

" I've decided, in my soul and conscience, and in complete freedom, to forgive. This pardon is addressed to Mr. Patrice Talon (…) and to all detainees involved in criminal association and attempted assassination by poisoning of the President of the Republic”, declared Yayi Boni, specifying "The forgiveness granted, I will be grateful to the judicial system of my country for the appropriate measures that will be taken with a view to releasing all detainees and guaranteeing freedom of movement to all., both in our country and in the rest of the world”, added the former Beninese president. It is true that forgiveness is not an instinct. It's not something most people seem to be able to do automatically.. If forgiveness was so easy for people, the world would be a very different place than it is now. But forgiveness helps us forget the past and see life and others from a different perspective.. Better the light of forgiveness illuminates our life and brings many blessings in unexpected and even miraculous ways. It is therefore up to President Talon to decide to pardon them. Because according to the constitution, it is he alone who has the possibility of granting a presidential pardon to a detainee, whatever the nature of the facts. But as the presidential pardon obeys criteria, and principles and is generally only granted the 31 July each year, either the eve of Independence Day, the Head of State can also decide to make this request to the National Assembly, only institution empowered to pass an amnesty law. For unity and peace, it's possible…

Arthur SESSI