released the Applicant on parole, with certain restrictions, including among
these, a prohibition on making any statement that calls into question the last
presidential elections of February 22, 2020.
202. One cannot refuse that imposing, on a personage of political life, who
has held positions of primary responsibility at the state level - Prime
Minister, Speaker of the National Assembly and continues to play an active
role at the political level, first, as President of a political party, duly
constituted, then, as a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly and
Chairman of the National Defense Commission, the ban on making any
statement calling into question the last presidential election of February 22,
2020, is in fact a way of gagging a politician by restricting the exercise of
his freedom of expression, guaranteed by Article 9 of the African Charter.
203. However, it must be verified whether such restriction meets the legality
requirements of necessity and proportionality.
In terms of legality
204. The Respondent claims that it follows from the provisions of the Code
of Criminal Procedure, namely Articles 112 to 124, that any accused person
may be granted simple or conditional provisional release;
205. Indeed, Article 119 of the cited Code of Criminal Procedure states that:
“Dans touts les cas où elle n’est pas de droit la mise en liberté peut être
subordonnée à des obligations particulières fixées par le juge telles que:
1- le versement d’un cautionnement destiné à garantir le paiement des
reparations civiles et des frais de justice ou la représentation de l’inculpé.
2- l’obligation de résider dans un lieu déterminé,
3- l’interdiction de fréquenter certains lieux ou certains établissements.
4- l’exercice d’un travail régulier,
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