Benin prosecutors has announced that three high-profile individuals, including a presidential guard commander, have been arrested on charges of plotting a coup d’état in the country.
The suspects include former sports Minister, Oswald Homeky, businessman, Olivier Boko, who is a close associate of President Patrice Talon, and Djimon Dieudonne Tevoedjre, the Commander of the Republican Guard responsible for the president’s security.
Special prosecutor, Elonm Mario Metonou, at Benin’s court for financial crimes and terrorism, revealed that the coup was allegedly set to occur on September 27, 2024.
According to Metonou, Homeky was arrested early Tuesday while delivering six bags of cash, amounting to 1.5 billion West African CFA francs (about $2.5 million), to Tevoedjre to facilitate the coup.
Boko was also arrested separately during the night in Cotonou, Benin’s economic capital.
He had recently started indicating that he would make a run for the presidency in 2026, when Talon’s second term in office ends and he is prohibited by the constitution from running again.
