Preparing the article…
If a translation is needed, this may take a few seconds.
If a translation is needed, this may take a few seconds.
A disqualified candidate of the Front for the Restoration of Democracy (FRD) in the last presidential election in early April, arrested days after the poll, the Beninese opposition figure and jurist is accused of "money laundering and endangering national security". He contracted coronavirus in prison after being placed…

Joël Aïvo speaks of a cell of thirty square meters where he found himself very quickly with practically 40 other inmates, crammed on top of one another. Where it becomes particularly cruel is that the prison authorities decided quite quickly to have cohabit, in these appalling sanitary conditions, inmates sick with Covid-19 and healthy inmates, which exposed them in an almost certain manner to contamination. In terms of law, this is a blatant and very serious violation of human rights. His situation today has improved somewhat in the sense that he was indeed placed in another section of the prison. He was also able to have access to health care, which had not been the case in the first days, the first weeks of the illness. So, today, his medical situation seems to be stabilized, but nonetheless remains worrying, in any case it concerns us and concerns his family.
Maître Ludovic Hennebel, lawyer in Marseille and lecturer, joined Joël Aïvo's legal defense team
Joël Aïvo's first appearance before the court for the repression of economic crimes and terrorism (Criet) is scheduled for July 15.
Our editors' picks of what matters. Monday to Friday.
By subscribing, you accept our privacy policy.