If they are arrested in March, the dates of 7 and 11 December 2021 represent those of the end of hopes of a favorable outcome for Joël Aïvo and Reckya Madougou. These candidates for the April presidential candidacy 2021 are, since those days, sentenced to heavy sentences. 10 years of imprisonment for the first and 20 for the second. Since the calls for their release still do not give anything even if the hopes are directed towards an amnesty law. But until when ?
Presidential 2021 in Benin. Like a whirlwind wave, the news of the candidacy of Joël Aïvo and Reckya Madougou began by invading the populace. The media make it their favorite. There is no more doubt, the former minister of Boni and the professor of constitutional law will be in the starting grid. One started by touring Benin, meet the different social strata, receives blessings from religious dignitaries from north to south, and sets out its ambitions. Lomé, political capital of neighboring Togo, became the headquarters of Reckya Madougou. She multiplies the meetings with tenors of the Beninese political arena and the West African sub-region.. Leaders and not the least of the regime of the rupture attended it clandestinely, later revealed the social networks. In short, their candidacies make the buzz and polarize the debates. But at the last minute, they were faced with a pitfall; sponsorship. Even if it circulated information according to which the master of the game ordered that the elected, municipal and parliamentarians of the mobility camp, sponsor the candidates of their choice, the duo, positionné sous la bannière “Les Démocrates “, the hard wing of the opposition to the regime of Patrice Talon, will not have the visa to line up in the starting grid.
Badly digested checkmate. They then undertook to make media outlets to denounce the stranglehold of the regime in place to restrict individual and political freedoms.. The rest we know. The Court for the Suppression of Economic Crimes and Terrorism (I shout) looked into their cases. She has, following a trial, inculpé Joël Aïvo pour “complot contre l’autorité de l’État” et “blanchiment de capitaux”. The academic, in detention for eight months, had been arrested the day after the re-election of President Talon. Indicted and imprisoned in early March in Cotonou, Reckya Madougou est accusée d’avoir financé une opération visant à assassiner des personnalités politiques pour empêcher la tenue du scrutin et ainsi “déstabiliser” le pays. The verdicts pronounced by the Criet on 7 December 2021 for Joël Aïvo and the 11 December 2021 for Reckya Madougou are heavy. They respectively pay 10 and 20 years.
Political Deals, unique option
Since that famous month of December 2021, Construction of the high school, pressure from the international community, human rights bodies and others are multiplying. Civil society organizations got involved and begged the President of the Republic. According to these opinion makers, the common well-being requires a total appeasement of the socio-political climate and especially the release of certain citizens of the caliber of Aïvo and Madougou. Former President Boni Yayi has made their release his hobbyhorse. He continues to plead their case whenever the opportunity is offered to him during his round trips to the Palais de la Marina.. Apparently, it doesn't accomplish much. Two years that the soap opera lasts. At the end of each year or on the eve of the celebration of Benin Independence Day, many hope for a presidential pardon. But the next day, their names do not appear on the lists to the dismay of their relatives and supporters. An armistice law is therefore a more credible alternative..
Le faux espoir…
Some are already seeing the end of the tunnel when the Council of Ministers of 21 September 2022 announced the transmission to the National Assembly of a bill amending and supplementing Law No. 2018-14 of 18 May 2018 on the code of criminal procedure in the Republic of Benin. "The proposed reform aims to confer on the President of the Republic the power to order the suspension of the execution of the sentence when it is justified for social and humanitarian reasons". In the provisions of the bill, “those sentenced to a custodial sentence may also and exceptionally benefit from the suspension of the execution of the sentence when, execution started, it is established in their regard a conduct likely to justify the measure or that it is dictated by significant social and humanitarian considerations.. The stated objective is to humanize and modernize the penalties provided for by the criminal code.. For a small country, under construction of its development process, like Benin, all éminences grises must be involved. Reckya Madougou and Joël Aïvo whose aura and competence are recognized beyond the borders as sure values, it is urgent to see them work for the collective good argue analysts of political, social and economic news. Since then, all eyes are on the Presidency of the Republic hoping for an early release of these so-called political detainees. But no white smoke.
The 03 last march, date marking the day of the arrest of Reckya Madougou, the former President of the Republic Nicéphore Dieudonné Soglo wanted to show him his solidarity. “I will not tire of calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all political detainees. I will do it today, I will do it tomorrow, until my last strength, and, until the day where, Reckya and the others, will regain their freedom. I will also undergo the same exercise in a few weeks if in the meantime, Professor Joël Aïvo does not find freedom. The history of our country is written by ourselves now and here. Their skills and their commitments are sorely lacking in the march of our nation towards its economic and social development,” wrote Nicéphore Dieudonné Soglo in a message.. He did not fail to show his disappointment at the delay in the release of the former minister. “I am very disappointed not to be able to obtain his release”. He also recalled that his late wife, Rosine Viera never recovered until her death.
Arnaud ACAKPO (Coll)