As an adult, she joined the Benin chapter of Jeune Chambre Internationale (JCI), eventually becoming a vice president.
[4] As head of the political party Les Démocrates, Madougou declared her intention to contest the presidential election on 11 April 2021; however, her candidacy was rejected as she did not have 16 signatures from supporting mayors or MPs.
[5] On 4 April 2021, a Beninese judge who had gone into exile told Radio France Internationale that Madougou's arrest was solely political.
[6] On 9 July 2021, Reckya Madougou's lawyers filed a request for the provisional release of their client with the prosecutor of the Court for the Repression of Economic Offenses and Terrorism.
[7] On 11 December 2021, Madougou was found guilty of "complicity in terrorist acts" by the Economic Crime and Terrorism Court in the capital Porto-Novo and sentenced to 20 years in prison.