The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) strongly condemns the suspension of the online media outlet Benin Web TV by the nation’s media regulator, Haute Autorité de l’Audiovisuel et de la Communication (HAAC), and calls for the immediate reversal of the decision.
Benin Web TV was covering the 2025 plenary session of the National Assembly during the vote on the General State Budget. As part of its coverage, the station’s reporter, Traoré Samba, published around 20 articles, including two that scrutinised the HAAC’s own budget submission to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
The first article, titled 2024 budget session: Several data errors in the figures defended by HAAC, pointed out discrepancies in the HAAC’s budget proposal, notably a 163% increase in staff-related expenditure. The second article, The HAAC: In addition to a $40 million Toyota Prado, the chairman “needs” another company car for $25 million, criticised the regulator’s budget request for an additional vehicle, despite having already secured funds for a high-end SUV.
On March 11, 2025, the HAAC summoned Benin Web TV for a hearing over the publications. Following the hearing, the regulator indefinitely suspended the media outlet. According to the HAAC President, the second article implied that the institution’s functioning was conditional on acquiring the additional vehicle, portraying the HAAC as imposing undue pressure on the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
In response, Benin Web TV’s Director, Paul Arnaud DEGUENON, defended the outlet’s reporting, insisting that the stories were based on publicly available information and intended to inform, not disparage. He also argued that the use of the word “needs” in the headline was subjective and open to interpretation.
Despite these clarifications, the HAAC maintained that the article damaged the institution’s image and suspended Benin Web TV. The regulator also withdrew DEGUENON’s press card, accusing the outlet of publishing “unfounded allegations detrimental to the honour and reputation of the President of HAAC.”
In a phone interview with the MFWA, DEGUENON described the process as deeply flawed. “The case concerns the HAAC, and the suspension followed a hearing presided over by the HAAC president himself, who also delivered the verdict,” he said.
This situation illustrates a blatant conflict of interest and abuse of regulatory power. The HAAC acted as both judge and party in a dispute involving its own conduct, raising serious concerns about fairness and accountability in Benin’s media regulation.
Furthermore, the indefinite suspension contravenes Article 33 of the operational agreement signed on December 13, 2023, between the HAAC and Benin Web TV. The article clearly states that any suspension “should not last more than a month.”
The MFWA urges the HAAC to immediately lift the suspension on Benin Web TV and reinstate Mr. DEGUENON’s press accreditation. The HAAC must exercise its mandate in a manner that is impartial, transparent, and free from conflict of interest, in line with democratic principles and press freedom standards.
