A year after his arrest, the fate of Beninese journalist Hugues Comlan Sossoukpè has sparked a wave of regional outrage. On July 10, 2026, a group of fifty West African journalists published an opinion piece in Jeune Afrique demanding his immediate release, as well as that of his colleague Ali Moumouni.

This initiative, coordinated by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), transcends borders and political divides. Through this solemn appeal, the signatories remind the Beninese authorities that freedom of information cannot be sacrificed in the name of national security. They denounce the prolonged detention without trial, which they consider a stain on Benin's democratic image.

A one-year reprieve in illegality: the arrest described as "kidnapping"

The case dates back to July 10, 2025. Hugues Comlan Sossoukpè, founder of the online media outlet Olofofo , was arrested in Abidjan before being clandestinely transferred to Benin by private plane. Since then, he has been imprisoned there in conditions whose legality is highly contested.

The circumstances of his arrest continue to outrage human rights organizations. Jeanne Lagarde, RSF's advocacy director for sub-Saharan Africa, describes the operation as a "pure and simple abduction" and "arbitrary detention." The case is all the more sensitive given that the journalist had refugee status in Togo and had traveled to Ivory Coast at the express invitation of the Ivorian authorities.

The complete absence of a proper extradition procedure is the main grievance of those protesting. Deprived of his fundamental rights during his transfer, the journalist finds himself detained without legal basis—a legal vacuum that the Beninese justice system, urged on by NGOs, is under pressure to urgently fill.

West African solidarity in the face of threats to the profession

The mobilization of these fifty media professionals demonstrates a collective awareness of the abuses threatening journalism in the sub-region. Through this platform, they send a clear message: arbitrary actions will not be tolerated.

This action is part of a broader legal offensive led by RSF, which has officially filed a case with the ECOWAS Court of Justice. The objective is twofold:

1. To obtain the immediate release of Hugues Comlan Sossoukpè and Ali Moumouni.
2. To have the illegal nature of their detention officially recognized by the regional jurisdiction, in order to create a protective precedent for all media professionals in West Africa.

The price of independence?

Known for his critical coverage of the 2019 Beninese legislative elections, is Hugues Comlan Sossoukpè paying the price for his independence? While the authorities remain silent, the slowness of the Beninese justice system, a year after the events, fuels all suspicions about the government's true commitment to providing a fair trial.

The signatories of the open letter demand a full investigation and the release of the journalist. Long considered a democratic model in West Africa, Benin is now facing its responsibilities and its own principles.