Benin: Arrest of Julien Kandé Kansou, Poet and Member of the Les Démocrates Party

An active member of the Beninese opposition, Julien Kandé Kansou, also a poet and member of the Les Démocrates party, is a well-known figure on social media for his critical stance against the government, was arrested on Thursday by republican police officers.

According to witnesses, six plainclothes men reportedly appeared at his home before taking him away, without presenting any apparent warrant or specifying their destination. His arrest has sparked a wave of indignation among his political comrades, his relatives, and public freedom advocates.

Julien Kandé Kansou is a member of the communication cell of the opposition party Les Démocrates, a political party led by Éric Houndété. He has gained a reputation on social media through his engaged poems and sharp criticism of the current regime. His lyrical and militant style has earned him many supporters as well as tensions with circles close to the power.

This arrest comes in a sensitive political context, less than a year before the 2026 presidential deadline. The Les Démocrates party has already announced that they are closely monitoring the situation, demanding clarifications on the conditions of their member’s detention.

No official communication from the authorities has been made yet, and the whereabouts of Julien Kandé Kansou remain unknown.