The leader of the largest opposition party in Benin and the country’s first female presidential candidate has been arrested on terrorism charges weeks ahead of Benin’s presidential vote.
According to the prosecution on Monday, Reckya Madougou, who is the head of the Les Démocrates party, plotted with certain members of her party “to disturb the electoral process with grave acts of terrorism.” Prosecutor Elonm Mario Metonou while speaking to members of the press, further revealed that Madougou had sent money to a military officer with the aim of “murdering an influential authority” and “eliminating a second authority during the funeral of the first victim.”
Speaking on behalf of the defence, Renaud Agbodjo said in a statement insisted that “Madougou was unjustly arrested,” he further stated that: “Benin’s democratic goals cannot be undermined by President Talon’s strongman tactics.”
Earlier, on Thursday last week, Reckya Madougou’s candidacy for the presidential election on April 11 came to a halt after it was rejected by the electoral commission for failing to garner signatures of support from 16 mayors or Members of Parliament. Her case is, however, similar to a lot of other presidential hopefuls. Many opposition figures are already in exile or barred from office in Benin, a West African state which critics say has veered into authoritarianism under the leadership of President Patrice Talon.
Separately, Sebastien Ajavon, a key opposition leader who came in third in the last election and was convicted of drug trafficking in 2018 and sentenced to 20 years in prison, was sentenced in absentia on Monday to five years for forgery and fraud. Ajavon is currently living in exile in France, like many of the country’s opposition members.
A total of 20 would-be candidates officially handed in their documents to run for the presidency, but the electoral commission said only the three chosen had met the requirements. President Talon will face former minister Alassane Soumano and Corentin Kohoue, a dissident opposition figure.
