Three men in Benin, including a former minister and the head of President Patrice Talon’s security detail, have been arrested for allegedly plotting a coup, according to the state prosecutor.
Former sports minister Oswald Homeky was apprehended on Tuesday while handing over six bags of money to Elonm Mario Metonou, the chief of the Republican Guard, the prosecutor revealed at a press conference.
Investigators claim that Colonel Djimon Dieudonne Tevoedjre was being bribed to refrain from resisting a planned coup set for Friday in the West African nation.
Among those detained was businessman Olivier Boko, a close associate of President Talon, who had recently expressed political ambitions.
Boko’s lawyers and supporters have denounced the arrest as an “abduction” and are demanding his immediate release.
The prosecutor stated that investigations are ongoing to identify additional suspects involved in the conspiracy.
Benin, once celebrated as a thriving multi-party democracy, has seen a shift towards a more autocratic rule under President Talon, according to rights groups.
Talon has previously declared that he will not seek a third term in the 2026 elections.
The incident adds to a string of recent coups and attempts in West and Central Africa, with eight military takeovers since 2020.
Source-BBC
