A court in Benin has sentenced well-known digital activist Steve Amoussou to two years in prison after convicting him of posting online criticism of the country’s government.
Amoussou, who denies the allegations, was found guilty of “politically motivated insult” and “spreading false information.”
In addition to the custodial sentence, the court ordered him to pay a fine of two million CFA francs — equivalent to around €3,050 or $3,500.
The activist, known for his critical stance towards President Patrice Talon’s administration, was arrested in August. His legal team claimed he had been “kidnapped” in neighbouring Togo and brought into Benin. His case was heard at the Court for the Repression of Economic Offences and Terrorism in Cotonou, a judicial body that has handed down stiff penalties to political opponents in recent years.
Amoussou is suspected of running a popular online account under the pseudonym “Frère Hounvi,” which published audio messages criticising Beninese authorities to an audience of 75,000 followers. He has consistently denied being the person behind the account and has yet to respond publicly to the court’s ruling.
Initially charged with “harassment via electronic communication,” “incitement to rebellion,” and “initiating and spreading false information,” Amoussou was eventually convicted on two of the lesser counts. The prosecution had requested a two-year jail term, which the court upheld.
Speaking after the verdict, Amoussou’s lawyer, Aboubacar Baparape, condemned what he called the political nature of the case. “The prosecution failed to prove that my client was ‘Frère Hounvi, ’” he told AFP. “This case carries a highly political connotation.”
The activist has 15 days to appeal.
Benin has seen an increasing clampdown on dissent in recent years, with several opposition figures facing severe penalties.
In a separate case earlier this year, two former senior officials — ex-presidential adviser Olivier Boko and former sports minister Oswald Homeky — were each handed 20-year prison terms for “conspiracy against the authority of the state.”
