Benin’s state prosecutor has announced the arrest of three men, including a former minister and the head of President Patrice Talon’s security, for allegedly plotting a coup. Ex-sports minister Oswald Homeky was apprehended while handing over six bags of money to Colonel Djimon Dieudonne Tevoedjre, head of the Republican Guard, who was allegedly bribed not to resist the planned coup. Businessman Olivier Boko, a close friend of President Talon who recently hinted he has political ambitions, was also detained. Boko’s supporters have since condemned his arrest as an “abduction” and demanded his release. Authorities are continuing investigations to identify more suspects, the state prosecutor said. This alleged plot marks a troubling shift for Benin, once regarded as a model for multi-party democracy. The country now joins the growing list of West and Central African nations facing coups or coup attempts since 2020.
SOURCE: BBC
