Benin – Criet: Comlan Hugues Sossoukpè claims his Togolese nationality in front of the judge
The Beninese journalist Comlan Hugues Sossoukpè, arrested in Abidjan and extradited to Benin, appeared this Monday, July 14, 2025, before the judge of detention and freedoms at the CRIET. Represented by a team of seven international lawyers, in court on Monday, he insisted he is Togolese.
L’activiste béninois Comlan Hugues Sossoukpè arrêté à Lomé et extradé vers Cotonou
Comlan Hugues Sossoukpè, the founder of the media outlet Olofofo Infos, appears this July 14 before the judge of freedom and detention near the CRIET in Cotonou. His arrest in Abidjan on July 10, followed by his extradition and imprisonment in Ouidah, continues to arouse the indignation of his relatives and of several organizations defending press freedom.
At the bar, the journalist chose to challenge the procedure by invoking his Togolese nationality. According to his lawyers, he does not consider himself a Beninese citizen but claims to be from Togo. “He said he was Togolese, that he’s Togolese,” insisted Me Barnabé Gbago in an interview with Libre Express.
“He actually said earlier that he was of Togolese nationality. That’s what he said,” he clarified. The lawyer emphasized that the journalist probably mentioned the Togolese nationality since he had obtained refugee status in Togo, recognized by the Geneva Convention since 2021.
“We cannot contradict him. Maybe being a refugee, well, maybe he has already submitted a dossier for Togolese naturalization. I don’t know. But he said he was Togolese, that he’s Togolese. And it is because of this that we advocated,” explained the lawyer.
“If he was Togolese, the procedure would not present itself like this. But as it’s the judge of freedom and detention, we won’t go deep into the file. We will remain superficially on the file. And it’s only in front of the investigating judge that we will go in depth of the file”.
Me Barnabé Gbago