Cotonou Court of First Instance: a Nigerien national charged with insulting Patrice Talon
A man of Nigerien nationality appeared on Tuesday, 11 November 2025, before the first in flagrante delicto criminal chamber of the Cotonou Court of First Instance.
He is being prosecuted for having, via a voice message broadcast on a WhatsApp group, uttered insults against the Beninese head of state, Patrice Talon.
According to the evidence presented, the defendant, exasperated by the difficulties of movement caused by the closure of the borders between Benin and Niger, allegedly called President Talon a “bastard”.
At the stand, the accused said his remarks were not aimed at the President of the Republic, arguing that his message was actually addressed to his own country and that he only sought to alert people to the situation of cross-border residents. He also mentioned his family ties to Benin. He is, in fact, married to two Beninese citizens.
The defense requested provisional release, arguing that the disputed message amounted to a cry for help rather than a deliberate act of political insult. The court adjourned the case to 2 December 2025 for the continuation of the hearings.
This case comes in a context where the prolonged closure of the borders between Benin and Niger is weighing on cross-border populations and fueling tensions.
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