The Special Court for Repression of Offenses (Criet) commenced the trial of 42 individuals arrested during the 2021 presidential election due to electoral violence.
Among them are opposition activists or sympathizers, all pleading “not guilty” to the charges brought against them. On the inaugural day of the trial, April 26th, the cases of eleven defendants were examined, with initial prosecutorial recommendations presented.
The courtroom accommodated the defendants in two rows of benches, totaling 42 Beninese citizens including students, activists, mechanics, hunters, and farmers, all clad in blue detainee vests. Notably, among them was a woman and an elderly gentleman, to whom a seat at the bar had to be offered.
Despite the 42 defendants, the cases were consolidated into six distinct files, categorized by the nature of the alleged offenses such as “interference with electoral rights,” “ammunition trafficking,” and “participation in prohibited gatherings.” During the initial proceedings, the court focused on four of these files, involving eleven of the accused individuals.
Despite the diverse backgrounds of the defendants, all maintained their innocence. One student admitted to participating solely in peaceful marches, while another confessed to deflating tires. The initial prosecutorial recommendations spanned sentences ranging from three to ten years.