In Benin, three men, including a former minister and the head of President Patrice Talon’s security, have been arrested on suspicion of plotting a coup. The arrests, which took place after a failed attempt to overthrow the government, were announced by the state prosecutor.
Ex-sports minister Oswald Homeky was apprehended on Tuesday while reportedly handing over six bags of money to Elonm Mario Metonou, the leader of the Republican Guard. Authorities have stated that Colonel Djimon Dieudonne Tevoedjre, another key figure in the alleged plot, was being bribed not to resist the planned coup, which was said to take place on Friday.
Also detained was businessman Olivier Boko, a close friend of President Talon, who had recently expressed his political ambitions. Boko’s supporters have condemned his arrest, calling it an “abduction” and demanding his immediate release.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to identify additional individuals involved in the alleged plot.
Benin, once hailed as a model of democracy in West Africa, has seen a rise in authoritarian practices under President Talon’s leadership, according to human rights organizations. Despite this, Talon has announced that he will not seek re-election in the 2026 presidential elections.
This incident adds to a worrying trend in West and Central Africa, where eight military coups and multiple coup attempts have taken place since 2020, signaling growing political instability in the region.
