Benin – Arrest of Chabi Yayi: the party Les Démocrates denounces an “abduction” and demands his immediate release
The party Les Démocrates reacted to the arrest of its national secretary for foreign affairs, Chabi Georges Nadjim Yayi. Boni Yayi’s son was taken from his home in Cotonou on the night of December 13–14, 2025 by individuals in police uniform. According to the political formation, no official information has been communicated to his family or to the party’s leaders, who denounce an attack on the rule of law and demand his immediate release.
In a statement made public on Sunday, December 14, 2025, the opposition party Les Démocrates sounded the alarm. As it prepares for the upcoming electoral deadlines, the party says its national secretary for foreign affairs, Chabi Georges Nadjim Yayi, was “kidnapped” from his home at around 2 a.m. by individuals presenting themselves in police uniform.
According to the document signed by the party leadership, Chabi Yayi was then allegedly taken to the Brigade économique et financière (BEF). But up to the time the statement was published, no formal notification had been made to either his family or to the leaders of Les Démocrates, causing serious concern within the political formation.
Faced with this situation, Boni Yayi’s party denounces with “the greatest firmness” what it considers an act contrary to the principles of the rule of law and to the fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the Beninese Constitution. Les Démocrates also say they fear for the physical safety of their official, in a national context described as “difficult”.
In its statement, Les Démocrates demand the immediate release of their national secretary for foreign affairs and call on the competent authorities to shed full light on this “abduction”.