Three high-profile individuals in Benin have been arrested for allegedly plotting a coup d’état.
Among those arrested is the commander of the presidential guard.
The other two individuals include a former sports minister and a businessman with close ties to President Patrice Talon.
This incident has raised alarm bells in the small West African nation, known for its once-thriving democracy.
According to Elonm Mario Metonou, the special prosecutor at Benin’s court for financial crimes and terrorism, the coup was reportedly planned to take place on September 27, 2024.
“The Republican Guard commander, who is responsible for the president’s security, was allegedly engaged by the former sports minister, Oswald Homeky, and businessman Olivier Boko to carry out the coup,” Metonou stated during a press briefing.
The court revealed that Homeky was arrested around 1:00 am on Tuesday while handing over six bags of cash totaling 1.5 billion West African CFA francs, which is approximately $2.5 million, to the commander, Djimon Dieudonne Tevoedjre.
In a separate incident, Boko, a close associate of President Talon, was arrested overnight in Cotonou, Benin’s economic capital.
Olivier Boko had recently expressed intentions to run for the presidency in 2026, when President Talon’s second term expires.
The timing of the arrests raises questions about political motivations behind the alleged coup.
Homeky resigned from his position as sports minister in 2023 after supporting Boko’s ambition to succeed Talon.
Critics suggest that these arrests might be linked to internal power struggles as the country approaches the next presidential election.
Boko’s lawyers have labeled his arrest as an “abduction” and are demanding his immediate release.
The legal team stated, “As this press conference is being held, it is not possible for his family or us, his lawyers, to know where and in what condition Mr. Boko is. He likely does not have access to food and above all his medications.”
Supporters of Boko, including the Objectif Benin 2026 support group, have condemned the arrest, describing it as “a serious violation of fundamental rights” and indicative of “obvious political persecution.”
Once regarded as a model for democracy in Africa, Benin has increasingly shown signs of authoritarianism under President Patrice Talon.
Since taking office in 2016, Talon’s government has faced criticism for its crackdown on dissent and political opposition.
Many observers argue that the recent arrests signal a further erosion of democratic norms in the country.
In August 2024, an online critic of the president, Steve Amoussou, was detained and ordered to stand trial on charges of publishing falsehoods and “inciting rebellion.”
