Reckya Madougou has been detained since March 2021 in south-eastern Benin and sentenced in December 2021 to 20 years in prison for acts of terrorism. In an authenticated opinion on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, the UN working group ruled that the detention of the Beninese opposition leader and former Justice Guard is “arbitrary” and that she must be released “immediately”.

Madougou has been accused of financing the assassination of political figures to prevent the presidential election from being held. She was therefore found guilty by the Court for the Suppression of Economic Offences and Terrorism (Criet). Following an examination of the case of the Beninese opponent, who is also contesting the facts, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that her arrest and detention “without a legal basis” are “arbitrary”.

According to the Group, “the opponent did not benefit from the right to the presumption of innocence” and the court did not provide evidence of her “alleged involvement in a business financing murders”.