The General Manager of the Baobab Express company, Paguiel Shalom Houémavo, and some of his collaborators have been in the Dassa-Zoumè police station since Tuesday 31 January 2023. The arrest came after a serious road accident in Dassa on Sunday 29 January that left at least 22 people dead and several others seriously injured.

Paguiel Shalom Houémavo and some of his employees were arrested and detained at the Dassa-Zoumè police station after one of their buses was involved in a deadly accident last Sunday.

Strong measures to prevent such tragedies

As soon as the tragedy occurred, the Beninese government announced the opening of an investigation to clarify the circumstances of the tragedy. The executive also announced strong measures to improve road safety throughout the country.

These include the generalisation of speed controls on all roads; the professionalisation of the transport profession, the texts of which are being finalised; the creation of a vehicle fleet with vehicles that meet the standards that will be set by the texts; the vote on a new Highway Code, which has already been submitted to the government, which will transmit it to the National Assembly as soon as the 9th legislature is installed; and the adoption (in progress) of the national policy on road safety.