Committee to Protect Journalists - Benin

Obama should raise press freedom in Africa food talks

2012-05-16T18:24:51Z

New York, May 16, 2012--President Obama should acknowledge the role that independent news reporting plays in assessing agricultural challenges and facilitating the response to famine, the Committee to Protect Journalists stated in a letter to the White House. Ethiopia in particular downplays the extent of food crises and undermines the ability of donor nations and aid groups to help by denying journalists access to sensitive areas and censoring independent coverage.

Gabon journalists summoned over critical articles

2012-03-20T22:11:28Z

New York, March 20, 2012--The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Gabon's authorities to drop legal proceedings against six journalists in connection with articles raising questions about use of a presidential plane. Two of the journalists have fled the country fearing arrest after being summoned by police for interrogation.

Togo bans paper over story on president's half-brother

2010-08-26T21:13:44Z

New York, August 26, 2010--The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Wednesday's ruling by a criminal court judge in Togo to indefinitely ban the distribution of a Benin newspaper that had raised questions about the alleged involvement of a half-brother of President Faure Gnassingbé in drug trafficking.

CPJ, African groups call for press freedom commitment

2010-07-08T15:20:47Z

Your Excellencies: As you gather in Paris for festivities that celebrate your nations’ 50 years of independence, we, the undersigned African press freedom advocates petition for your public commitment to a free, vibrant, and self-sustaining press as a cornerstone of the development of francophone Africa in the next five decades.

Attacks on the Press 2007: Africa Snapshots

2008-02-05T16:59:20Z

Attacks & developments throughout the region

CPJ condemns jailing of two journalists for criminal libel

2007-12-04T17:00:00Z

TEMPLATE

New York, December 4, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned at the jailing in Benin of two journalists convicted of criminal defamation.
A court in the capital Cotonou sentenced editor Clément Adéchian and reporter Cécil Adjévi of the private daily L’Informateur to six months in prison on December 2. It also fined them CFA francs 500,000 (US$1,000), according to CPJ sources and media reports. They were jailed the same day.

Media group journalists in Benin sentenced to prison

2007-02-21T05:00:00Z

New York, February 21, 2007--The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns criminal convictions handed down on Friday in Benin against three journalists and an executive of private Golfe media group over a February 2005 story alleging governmental corruption.

A court in the capital Cotonou sentenced Golfe media group President Ismael Soumano, former Golfe FM Director Euloge Aïdasso, former Director Joel Ahofojji and former Golfe TV Editorial Chronicler Charbel Aïhou to six months in prison and heavy damages and fines on criminal defamation charges, according to local journalists. The charges stem from a story alleging that the sacking of former Housing Minister Luc Gnacadja by then-President Mathieu Kérékou was linked to his mismanagement of a public housing project, according to the same sources. The journalists are free pending an appeal, according to defense lawyer Magloire Yansunnu.

In Benin, journalists are released after 2 months in prison

2007-02-09T17:00:00Z

New York, February 9, 2007—An appeals court in the capital Cotonou released today two journalists of a private daily newspaper after they publicly retracted a rape story. They were jailed since December 2, 2006 on a six-month criminal libel sentence.

Director Clément Adéchian and reporter Cécil Adjévi of L’Informateur were released after agreeing to an out-of-court settlement with plaintiff Maxime Bankolé over an August 29, 2006 story alleging that Bankolé, a court bailiff, had raped a widow, acting Director Franck Pocheme told CPJ. Bankolé withdrew his complaint after the journalists made public apologies in the media and signed an agreement to pay him 5 million CFA francs (US$10,000) in damages, Adéchian later told CPJ.

Attacks on the Press 2006: Africa Snapshots

2007-02-05T16:46:58Z

Attacks & developments throughout the region

CPJ condemns jailing of two journalists for criminal libel

2006-12-04T17:00:00Z

New York, December 4, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned at the jailing in Benin of two journalists convicted of criminal defamation.
A court in the capital Cotonou sentenced editor Clément Adéchian and reporter Cécil Adjévi of the private daily L’Informateur to six months in prison on December 2. It also fined them CFA francs 500,000 (US$1,000), according to CPJ sources and media reports. They were jailed the same day.

Journalist questioned over critical articles

2006-09-18T16:00:00Z

September 18, 2006
Posted: September 22, 2006

Cyril Saïzonou, Djakpata
HARASSED

Police arrested Saïzonou, director of the private daily Djakpata, and questioned him about articles published in the September 1 and September 8 editions of the paper, according to CPJ sources. Several articles were critical of the police, while another alleged that a top government official was a spy.

Journalists held over story on president’s son

2006-09-15T16:00:00Z

September 15, 2006
Posted: September 22, 2006

Virgil Linkpon, La Diaspora de Sabbat
Fulric Richard Couao-Zotti, La Diaspora de Sabbat
IMPRISONED

Linkpon and Couao-Zotti, respectively managing editor and editor of the private weekly La Diaspora de Sabbat, were arrested in connection with a story about the president’s family, according to CPJ sources in the capital Cotonou.

For first time since '96, journalists imprisoned for their work

2004-08-19T16:00:00Z

New York, August 19, 2004—At least four Beninese reporters face criminal defamation charges and two of them have already spent time in prison this year—the first journalists to be imprisoned for their work since 1996 in the West African nation.

The defendants include Patrick Adjamonsi, publication director of the private daily L'Aurore, who was released today after spending six days in prison. Adjamonsi, whose original sentence was overturned, faces a new trial in the fall.

Jailed journalist granted provisional release

2004-05-03T16:00:00Z

New York, May 3, 2004—Jean-Baptiste Hounkonnou, publication director of the Beninese independent daily Le Nouvel Essor, was granted a provisional release after spending six weeks in jail on criminal defamation charges.

On April 27, Benin’s Court of Appeal granted Hounkonnou’s request for provisional release, and he was freed the same day, according to CPJ sources. He is due to reappear in court on May 27 and could face jail time again if he loses the appeal.

CPJ condemns journalist's imprisonment

2004-03-22T17:00:00Z

New York, March 22, 2004—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemns the imprisonment of Jean-Baptiste Hounkonnou, publication director of the independent daily Le Nouvel Essor, which is based in Parakou, a city in the eastern central region of Benin.

Honkounnou was arrested and imprisoned following a March 16 court conviction on charges of criminal defamation. The charges stem from a December 2003 Le Nouvel Essor article that alleged that a local resident had committed adultery. In addition to receiving six months in prison, Hounkonnou was sentenced to pay 600,000 CFA francs (US$1,120) in damages and a 200,000 CFA franc (US$375) fine, local journalists said.