ECOWAS should halt genocidal attacks on unarmed protesters in Benin Republic

Mr Ganiou Soglo, a former minister and son of ex-president Nicephore Soglo was seriously wounded last month after shots were fired at his car soon after he had submitted his papers for the April presidential election.

Mr Soglo is one of 18 politicians who have filed papers for the April 11, 2021 election to challenge the incumbent, Mr Patrice Talon. The government condemned the attack and promised to ensure the diligence of investigations promptly undertaken by the Republican Police services.

Although it was reported that the Police have opened an investigation into the violent attacks there is no indication that the assailants have been apprehended and prosecuted by the government.

In another development, a Benin opposition leader, Mrs Reckya Madougou has been detained for several weeks without trial on the orders of President Patrice Talon who is seeking a second term in the election. Though barred from contesting the forthcoming presidential election Madougou is seen as a threat to the realisation of the ambition of the anti-democratic forces in Benin Republic.

Reckya Madougou’s candidacy for the April 11 election was said to have been rejected on the ground that she failed to garner required signatures of support from local mayors and lawmakers.

Notwithstanding the rejection of her candidacy by the electoral commission her detention is part of President Talon’s crackdown on political opponents to manipulate the upcoming presidential election in the Benin Republic. In justifying the detention of the opposition leader, Prosecutor Elonm Mario Metonou claimed that “Madougou and certain members of her party have, in all likelihood, plotted to disturb the electoral process with grave acts of terrorism.”

Many other political figures have since been arrested detained without trial to pave way for the “victory” of President Talon in the April 11 presidential election.

To prevent the Talon administration from further undermining democracy in the country the people have embarked on peaceful protests. But armed troops have killed many people on the orders of President Talon. Since the killings have not halted the protests the troops have resorted to genocidal attacks on the population.

The authorities of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ought to intervene in the political crisis in the Benin Republic with a view to halting the reckless crackdown on opposition figures and subversion of democracy in the country. In particular, Reckya Madougou and other political detainees ought to be released immediately and unconditionally from illegal and unjust Incarceration.

In view of the fact that opposition figures have been driven to exile or held in custody by the government, the Ecowas ought to set up a high power delegation to probe the gun attack on Mr Soglo and other allegations of politically motivated killings carried out by the Talon administration. The Ecowas should not monitor and endorse the April 11 election as it has been fixed in favor of President Talon through a dubious constitutional amendment and a clampdown on the opposition. As a matter of urgency, Ecowas should stop the ongoing genocidal attacks on unarmed protesters in the country.

Femi Falana, SAN, is Interim Chair, Alliance on Surviving Covid 19 and Beyond (ASCAB)