Three individuals in Benin, including a former minister and the head of President Patrice Talon’s security, have been arrested on allegations of orchestrating a coup, according to the state prosecutor.
Former sports minister Oswald Homeky was apprehended while reportedly delivering six bags of cash to Elonm Mario Metonou, the commander of the Republican Guard. Authorities revealed that Colonel Djimon Dieudonne Tevoedjre was allegedly being bribed to facilitate the coup set to occur on Friday in the West African nation.
Also among those detained is businessman Olivier Boko, a close associate of President Talon, who had recently expressed his political ambitions. Boko’s legal team and supporters have denounced the circumstances of his detention, labeling it an “abduction” and calling for his immediate release.
Ongoing investigations aim to uncover additional individuals involved in the conspiracy, as stated by the prosecutor. Once hailed for its multi-party democracy, Benin has seen a shift toward autocracy during President Talon’s administration, as noted by human rights organizations.
President Talon has confirmed that he will not pursue a third term in the 2026 elections. Since 2020, there have been eight military coups and numerous other attempts throughout West and Central Africa.
