Coup plot next door as Benin arrests President’s friend, ex-minister

Benin Republic prosecutors said that they had foiled a suspected coup attempt scheduled to take place on Friday.

In a statement on Wednesday, Special Prosecutor at Benin’s court for Financial Crimes and Terrorism, Elonm Metonou said that a former Sports Minister, Oswald Homeky was caught on Tuesday night handing over six bags of cash to Commander of the Republican Guard, Djimon Tevoedjre, who is also and Head of President Patrice Talon’s security.

Metonou said the bag contained 1.5 billion West African CFA francs (about $2.5 million).

Authorities said the suspects opened a bank account in Côte d’Ivoire under the commander’s name on 6 August, adding that the money was transported in Homeky’s Toyota Prado, which bore fake license plates.

President Talon’s longtime friend and businessman, Olivier Boko, who was arrested separately on Monday, was in on the plot, according to the statement.

Boko was arrested in Cotonou, Benin’s economic capital. The businessman had recently started making known his plans to run for the presidency in 2026, when Talon’s second term in office ends.

According to investigators, Homeky and Boko paid off the military commander to not resist the planned coup.

Metonou said investigations are ongoing to arrest other suspects.

Talon, who has led Benin since 2016, faces criticism for what critics say is becoming an increasingly authoritarian rule.

Some observers argue that his policies have eroded democratic standards in the country.