Three men in Benin have been arrested on suspicion of plotting a coup, including a former minister and the man responsible for President Patrice Tallon’s security, state prosecutors said.
Former sports minister Oswald Khomki was arrested on Tuesday while handing over six bags of money to the head of the Republican Guard, Elon Mario Metonou, prosecutors told a news conference.
Investigators say Colonel Djimon Dieudonné-Tvoéger was bribed to prevent him from resisting a planned coup in the small West African country on Friday.
Also detained was Olivier Boko, a businessman – a friend of President Talon – who recently said he had political ambitions.
Mr Boko’s lawyers and supporters condemned what they called a “kidnapping” and called for his immediate release.
Prosecutors said the investigation is ongoing to identify additional suspects.
Human rights groups say Benin, once known as a multi-party democracy, has become more authoritarian under Patrice Tallon’s presidency.
President Tallon has announced that he will not seek re-election for a third term in the 2026 elections.
Since 2020, there have been eight military takeovers and several other coup attempts in West and Central Africa.
