Three men in Benin, including a former minister and the individual responsible for President Patrice Talon’s security, have been arrested on suspicion of conspiring to stage a coup, according to the state prosecutor.
Former sports minister Oswald Homeky was apprehended on Tuesday while delivering six bags of cash to the head of the Republican Guard, Colonel Elonm Mario Metonou, as reported at a press conference by the prosecutor.
Investigators revealed that Colonel Djimon Dieudonne Tevoedjre was allegedly being bribed not to oppose a coup planned for Friday in the small West African nation.
Also detained was businessman Olivier Boko, a friend of President Talon, who recently expressed his political ambitions.
Boko’s lawyers and supporters have denounced what they describe as his “abduction” and are calling for his immediate release.
The prosecutor indicated that investigations are ongoing to identify additional suspects.
Once celebrated as a multi-party democracy, Benin has taken a more autocratic direction under President Patrice Talon, according to human rights organizations.
President Talon has announced that he will not seek a third term in the upcoming 2026 elections.
Since 2020, West and Central Africa has witnessed eight military coups and several other coup attempts.