Benin: Journalist Comlan Hugues Sossoukpè placed in prison

While he was officially invited by the Ivorian Ministry of Digital Transition to take part in the Ivory Tech Forum, Comlan Hugues Sossoukpè, a journalist known for his strong positions, was arrested on Thursday, July 10, 2025 in Abidjan.

According to our sources, this arrest occurs in execution of an arrest warrant issued by the Investigating Commission of the Court of Repression of Economic Infractions and Terrorism (CRIET) of Benin. In the aftermath, he would have been extradited to Cotonou and placed under custodial warrant after 7 years of exile.

But since the announcement of his arrest, the information remains contradictory. While some sources indicate that he would have been handed over to the Beninese authorities on the day of Thursday. After his extradition, he would have been presented to the prosecutor of Criet, placed under custody warrant, and transferred to the civil prison of Ouidah.

But others, in particular close contacts, claim that he would still be on Ivorian soil on the evening of Friday, July 11.

Official silence and confusion about the transfer

Beninese authorities, both judicial and police, have so far made no public statement on the matter. This silence fuels speculations about the exact circumstances of extradition and possible transfer of the journalist to Benin territory.

An official document obtained by BENIN WEB TV shows that the journalist had been formally invited by the Ivorian government to participate in a regional forum on digital at the Sofitel Hotel Ivoire in Abidjan, in his capacity as a recognized journalist in the sub-region.