A court in Abomey-Calavi, Benin, has convicted a woman for physically assaulting her daughter-in-law during a bitter inheritance dispute, sentencing her to a three-month suspended prison term.
The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, sheds light on the complex intersection of family dynamics, ethnic tensions, and succession rights in the country.
According to reports from Bip Radio, the case centered around longstanding discord between the two women, triggered by the son’s choice of a life partner.
Evidence presented during the hearing revealed that the defendant—mother of the deceased—had attempted to pressure her son into marrying a woman from their own ethnic group while he was still alive.
He reportedly rejected her demand and went on to marry a woman of a different ethnic background.
Tensions in the family worsened following the birth of the couple’s first child. Just two months later, the man passed away under undisclosed circumstances, intensifying the family feud over inheritance matters.
The altercation that led to the court case occurred in the wake of this tragedy.
The grieving mother-in-law allegedly directed her anger and frustration at her daughter-in-law, culminating in a violent confrontation.
During the trial, witnesses testified to the abuse, and the court found the defendant guilty of physical assault.
While the three-month prison sentence was suspended—meaning the woman will not serve time unless she reoffends—the verdict was seen as a significant message from the judiciary on the importance of upholding the rights of widows, especially in cases influenced by ethnic prejudice and inheritance conflicts.
The judgment also reignites conversations around gender-based violence and inheritance laws in Benin, particularly the vulnerability of widows in navigating legal and cultural expectations after the death of a spouse.
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