The legal team representing journalist and human rights defender Comlan Hugues Sossoukpè has accused authorities in both Benin and Côte d’Ivoire of committing “serious violations” of his fundamental rights, following his detention in Ouidah Civil Prison.
In a strongly worded statement, the lawyers alleged that their client was the victim of an orchestrated “kidnapping” during his participation in a digital forum in Abidjan. They dispute the legality of his transfer to Benin, arguing that the process did not meet international or national legal standards.
Sossoukpè, who has been recognized as a refugee in Togo since 2019, is the editor of the newspaper Olofofo. His legal team claims that official communications have sought to deny both his journalistic credentials and his refugee status.
They point to an official invitation from Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Digital Transition to attend the Ivoire Tech Forum as evidence of his professional legitimacy, and say local authorities were fully aware of his refugee travel documents upon his arrival.
The lawyers reject the notion of a “regular extradition,” stating that Sossoukpè was never presented before an Ivorian court nor granted the right to defend himself. They argue this constitutes a serious breach of international law and established criminal procedures.
The statement also denounces what the defense describes as a “smear campaign” portraying their client as a “collaborator of the enemies” through certain media and social media channels, undermining the principle of the presumption of innocence.
Concerns have also been raised over his detention conditions. According to the lawyers, Sossoukpè has been held in strict isolation and denied all visits, including from family members, in what they call a “grave infringement of his human dignity.”
The legal team is demanding immediate access to him and an end to the restrictive measures, while pledging to pursue all available legal avenues, both nationally and internationally, to secure a fair trial and compensation. “We will spare no legal or judicial effort to guarantee a fair trial,” they stated.
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