Tag: Benin

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF): Memorandum to the Colonial Government of France (25.05.2022)

Conseil de l’Entente: Communique du Secretariat Executif du Conseil de l’Entente sur la situation securitaire au Niger et au Benin (10.03.2022)

Benin: Talon is cracking down on everyone in his way

The 2nd Term President of Benin, Patrice Talon has clearly decided to use all his power and the state, which he operates to besiege all of his enemies. The President and the State is targeting all opposition with political motivated charges and sentencing. It is as clear as day.

Talon have only been the President since 2016 and was re-elected earlier this year in 2021. Still, his manners and his moves could be of the old guard of “liberators” turned dictators. Since, this is using the justice system and the state apparatus to go after the ones who seeks his office. Talon and his government is clearly very systematic in who they go after and who they sentence for long sentences. The ones in exile cannot return without entering the court system or becoming jail-birds.

That is a worrying sign and signal. The one causing the headlines today and yesterday is presidential candidate and opposition Reckya Madougou, but she is just following a long line of opponents who in legal trouble. This is clearly deliberate and usage of power to benefit Talon. When everyone on the ticket and people who possibly challenge him gets charged and sentenced. You know the gig is up and the state is sanctioning this on the behest of the President.

Just take a look!

It was reported yesterday that Benin opposition politician and former justice minister Reckya Madougou was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Saturday before a special court in the capital Porto-Novo

On the 8th December 2021:

“A court in Benin has condemned academic and political opponent Joël Aïvo to 10 years behind bars” (Hauwa Mustapha – ‘Benin court jails opposition leader’ 08.12.2021, Von.gov.ng). “His co-defendants, Boni Saré Issiakou and Ibrahim Bachabi Moudjaïdou, CRIET pronounced each of them a fixed prison sentence of 10 years with a fine of 5.7 million CFA francs (approximately 9 thousand euros). “There was never any question of a coup d’etat according to the defendant Boni Sarè Issiakou”, reported Benin Web Tv, specifying that it was a fraud operation mounted with the aim of extorting money to businessman Arnaud Houédanou” (Zaman Times – ‘Benin Presidential opponent Joël Aïvo sentenced to 10 years in prison’ 08.12.2021).

In April 2021:

“Meanwhile, businessman Sebastien Ajavon, who came third in the 2016 presidential poll, was convicted of drug trafficking in 2018 and sentenced to 20 years in prison, while another potential rival, ex-finance minister Komi Koutche, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for embezzlement. Ajavon lives in exile in France, while Koutche lives in Washington, DC” (Al Jazeera – ‘Opposition sidelined as Benin votes in presidential election’ 11.04.2021).

So, Talon has sidelined and gotten Madougou, Aivo, Ajavon and Koutche have all now been charged and sentenced to long prison sentences. Which makes it clear that Talon had this all planned out.

This is showing the world that Benin government and Talon isn’t offering democracy, but wants to control everything. While he wants to silence the ones who opposes him. That is very obvious and the world shouldn’t just see the arrest of Madougou, but of all of them. The only reason she is significant is because of her gender and that she stood tall in the previous election.

Alas, Talon is showing his ruthless behaviour and acts of which will not redeem him. Instead, he shows a sinister side and how power corrupts a man like him. A businessman turned head of state. A man who is willing to double-cross and use the law-books against his opponents. That is what sort of actions he has and it’s clear as day. Peace.

Opinion: The Françafrique countries should question it’s need for France

The last two weeks or recent days the French President Emmanuel Macron have proven how the elites of Paris is disregarding the former colonies, if it is Mali or Algeria. I am sure behind closed doors and within trusted associates the words could be even striking. Because, these words has been said in public and with no proper excuse.

In that regard, when the Head of State of France is saying that. The previous colonies should question the need to be bound by mechanisms and by agreements tied to Paris. Since Paris clearly don’t respect you or honour you.

Françafrique consist of Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad (Tchad), Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Comoros, Central African Republic, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Madagascar, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Togo, and Tunisia. That is lot of counties and huge part of continent. The French are involved also in republics and nations, which they were the colonial power over. However, this here piece about them. Since they have still a significant place and plays a role for the power-balance in these countries.

About the “Colonies Francaises d’Afrique”:

The countries still bound by a monetary union and a common currency, which is Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo, These are all part of West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). The second monetary union of the CFA Franc are based on these countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. These countries are a part of the Central African Economic and Monetary Union (CAEMC).

The French and some of their allies tried to relaunch it as “Eco” in 2019 and that has gone nowhere. That should say a lot. I doubt that is only happening, because of regime changes. Nevertheless, I don’t expect any serious movement on this matter anytime soon.

We know Benin said it wanted to leave CFA Franc … that hasn’t happened either. Paris and the elites there has a way of keeping everyone under their control.

What would be healthy would be for all heads of state and parliaments, ministries and such evaluate the relations, agreements and ties with it’s former colonial master. Since, as an independent nation it is nothing saying that you should be there forever or have to be mocked on a irregular basis by Heads of State of France. Neither, should the French has trade advantage or mineral extraction agreement, which other nations companies couldn’t have. That could possibly make it more profitable and earn more tax-dollars to the state reserves in any given republic.

It is time for all of them to consider this. Everyone has some sort of ties and this is why they are still indirectly having influence. That is why everytime something happens or in regards to French interests. Things gets tense and you never know when things will pop-off. This is why the Republic’s need to oversee and have a proper oversight of it. It is like this has have never been done.

All mechanism and statutory bodies, which is connected needs also to be looked into. This here will take time and needs to be inquires. There is a need to directly investigate and also see what sort of affects it has had over the years. If there is a beneficial relations or one-sided. Since, there might be some good parts, but a lot of it is a way of the French to never let go.

After everything Macron has done. The Francophone Africa needs to react and not accept this sort of acts. Right now he does this to Algeria and Mali. Who knows when the “wrong” head of state get elected somewhere and he will use his power to stifle them. Even if that was the will of the people and not the will of Paris. That is what is striking here and that is why these republic’s needs to see over everything. We know the French will feel insulted and infuriated. Since they are entitled to it all. However, this wasn’t their to begin with. This isn’t Marseilles or Bordeaux, but it’s Yaounde and Lome. Peace.

Benin: Communique de presse pre-electoral de la Coalition des Organisations de la Societe Civile pour les Elections et la Paix (COSCEP) concernant les tensions et les episodes de violence observes a quelques jours de l’election presidentielle du 11 avril 2021 au Benin (09.04.2021)

Benin: Communique de la Mission Pre-Electorale de la CEDEAO en Republique du Benin (12.02.2021)

Benin: Communiqué du Front pour la Restauration de la Démocratie (FRD) – Collectif de l’Opposition (03.02.2021)

Benin: Ministere de l’Economie et des Finances – Le Benin desormais un pays a revenu intermediaire (03.07.2020)

Benin: Le Ministre de l’Industrie et du Commerce communique (05.05.2020)

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