Being a candidate in the presidential elections of April 2021 and facing outgoing President Patrice Talon is the wish of the Beninese opponent, Sébastien Ajavon. And yet, the latter was condemned by the Court of Repression of Illicit Enrichment and Terrorism (Criet) of his country on 18 October 2018. From France, where he went into exile, he referred the matter to the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for the purpose of enjoying his civil rights again.
The Beninese businessman Sébastien Ajavon is determined to stand in the next presidential election despite the legal proceedings against him. Sentenced to 20 years in prison for «international trafficking in cocaine» with a fine of 5 million FCFA, or €7,600, Sébastien Ajavon asks the UN to be able to return to his country and face the current President of the Republic Patrice Talon.
Sebastien Ajavon says he is a victim of the violation of his right to take part in the public affairs of his country. In addition, he accuses the government of wanting to exclude him from the presidential elections of April 11, 2021 with suspicious and illegal maneuvers to stifle him financially. He cites the suspension of his radio Soleil Fm in December 2019 and the tax recovery of its Benin-based companies to the tune of FCFA 167 billion. The political opponent also accuses the Beninese state of refusing to respect the decisions taken by the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in its favour.
The political destiny of the 56-year-old Beninese businessman is now in the hands of the UN.
It should be recalled that following his conviction in October 2018, an international arrest warrant was issued against him. However, the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (Ofpra) granted him political asylum in March 2019.
The facts for which he was convicted date back to 28 October 2016 with the seizure of 18 kilos of pure cocaine in a container belonging to the Cajaf-Comon company, owned by Sébastien Ajavon.
