Benin sentenced an investigative journalist to 18 months in prison on Tuesday for comments he posted on social media. Ignace Sossou quoted on his Facebook and Twitter pages comments made by Benin’s public prosecutor Mario Metonou at a media event to discuss fake news on December 17. Last week, Benin’s media regulatory authority suspended the radio station of Sebastien Ajavon, a Beninese businessman and opponent in exile. Sossou works for the online news website Benin web TV, and collaborates with several news organisations such as the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and the 3i Network. Reporters Without Borders ranked Benin 96th in its press freedom index this year.

Source: Punch December 24, 2019 20:15 UTC