The Beninese opposition party « Les Démocrates » demanded, on Sunday February 19, the release of journalist Maxim Lissanon, in a press release signed by its First Vice-President Nourénou Atchadé.
“It was reported to the National Coordination of the party Les Démocrates that the journalist responding to the name of Lissanon Maxime was arrested on January 13, 2023 the day after the legislative election. Said arrest would follow the publication on his Facebook page « of a message qualified as » incitement to rebellion, « says the document.
The offending message reads: “Representatives of the Les Démocrates party refused access to the polling stations in Abomey. They are criticized for the non-authentication of their mandate, an alibis to waste their time. To be continued ».
The political formation maintains that “the message made public by Mr. Lissanon Maxime (…) is well proven as we mentioned in the appeals addressed to the Constitutional Court in the context of post-electoral litigation”.
Indeed, the Les Démocrates party mentioned in its appeals that “the party representatives in Abomey, Sèmè-Podji, Dassa-Zoumé, Ouèssè, So-Ava, Ifangny, Lalo, etc., were dismissed from the polling stations on the grounds that the mandates were not countersigned by the CENA”.
As a result, the statement continued, “the charge of ‘inciting rebellion’ against Mr. Lissanon Maxime is impertinent since the Les Démocrates party has repeatedly mentioned it in its media outlets.
The training “condemns this nth arbitrary arrest and demands the immediate release of Mr. Lissanon Maxime unjustly imprisoned”. Just as it “reaffirms its support” for the journalist and “will provide him with legal assistance on the occasion of his next appearance”.
The Party “will use all legal means to obtain the release of this journalist imprisoned for offenses of opinion”, concludes the press release.
By OMA Newsletter N° 1058 of 21/02/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
