Benin prosecutors announced on Wednesday that three prominent figures, including the commander of the presidential guard, have been arrested on charges of planning a coup d’etat in the West African nation.
The suspects include a former sports minister and a businessman closely associated with President Patrice Talon.
Elonm Mario Metonou, the special prosecutor at Benin’s financial crimes and terrorism court, revealed that the coup was allegedly set for Friday.
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According to the prosecutor, the commander of the Republican Guard, responsible for the president’s security, had been recruited by former sports minister Oswald Homeky and businessman Olivier Boko to stage the coup on September 27, 2024.
Homeky was arrested early Tuesday morning while handing over six bags of cash totaling 1.5 billion West African CFA francs (approximately $2.5 million) to the commander, Djimon Dieudonne Tevoedjre.
Boko, a long-time associate of President Talon and a potential candidate for the 2026 presidential election, was arrested in Cotonou on the night between Monday and Tuesday.
Boko’s arrest has sparked outrage among his supporters and legal team.
His lawyers have decried the arrest as a political move, labeling it an “abduction” and expressing concern over his health, as they claim his whereabouts and condition remain unknown.
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Boko’s supporters have also condemned the arrest as a “serious violation of fundamental rights” and “political persecution.”
Boko, who recently expressed his intention to run for the presidency in 2026, had gained significant support after Homeky resigned as sports minister in 2023 and endorsed his candidacy.
Critics argue that Benin, once considered a model for multi-party democracy, has become increasingly authoritarian under Talon, who has been in power since 2016.
This arrest follows other instances of political repression, including the August detention of Steve Amoussou, an online critic of the president, who is set to stand trial for allegedly inciting rebellion.
Benin’s security forces have been on heightened alert due to jihadist violence spilling over from the Sahel region, which has destabilized neighboring countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—all of which have experienced military coups linked to ongoing insecurity.
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