CPJ urges Benin to protect press freedom

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has directly urged Beninese President Romuald Wadagni to take decisive action to safeguard press freedom. The call came in a letter marking the president's first 100 days in office.

The CPJ letter details a deteriorating environment for the media in Benin. It highlights the case of Comlan Hugues Sossoukpè, the publishing director of the private online outlet Olofofo Info. Sossoukpè was arrested in Ivory Coast in July 2025 and forcibly extradited to Benin, despite holding refugee status. He remains in detention without trial.

His colleague, Ali Moumouni, was arrested days later. He is also detained without having faced trial. The CPJ states that both cases exemplify the threats facing journalists in the country.

Call for Legal Reform

The press freedom organization specifically called on President Wadagni to reform Benin's Digital Code. The CPJ argues this law has been consistently used against journalists to silence critical reporting.

International scrutiny of this legislation is established. During Benin's most recent Universal Periodic Review before the U.N. Human Rights Council in 2023, several member states raised concerns about the Digital Code. The process is a mechanism for reviewing the human rights records of all U.N. member states.

A Pattern of Detention

The detention of Sossoukpè and Moumouni highlights the risks journalists face. Sossoukpè's extradition from Ivory Coast, a country where he had sought refuge, is a particularly contested action. The CPJ's letter links these arrests to a broader pattern of suppressing free expression.

No formal charges or trial dates have been reported for the two detained journalists. Their prolonged detention without trial raises serious civil and political rights concerns under international human rights standards.

International Human Rights Mechanisms

The concerns raised during Benin's 2023 UPR highlight the role of international human rights mechanisms. These forums allow for peer review and recommendations on a state's human rights obligations. The fact that multiple states questioned the Digital Code indicates widespread international concern over its impact on fundamental freedoms.

The CPJ's appeal to President Wadagni leverages this existing diplomatic record. It frames press freedom as a domestic issue and one of international civil rights accountability. The organization's letter serves as a direct appeal for presidential intervention to reverse the current trend.

Benin's government has not yet issued a public response to the CPJ's demands. The fate of the detained journalists and the restrictive digital law remain unresolved. The case continues to draw attention from global press freedom advocates.