BENIN REPUBLIC FOILS COUP ATTEMPT, ARRESTS PRESIDENTIAL GUARD AND EX-MINISTER
Authorities in Benin Republic have foiled a suspected coup attempt scheduled for September 27, 2024, arresting a presidential guard commander, a former sports minister, and a businessman with close ties to President Patrice Talon.
The alleged coup plotters, Oswald Homeky, a former sports minister, and Olivier Boko, a businessman and longtime friend of President Talon, were accused of paying off the military commander, Djimon Dieudonne Tevoedjre, to ensure no resistance during the takeover.
According to Elonm Mario Metonou, the special prosecutor at Benin’s court for financial crimes and terrorism, the alleged coup was set to take place on Friday. "It appears the Republican Guard commander in charge of the president’s security was engaged by Homeky and Boko to carry out a coup by force," the prosecutor said.
Homeky was detained at around 1:00 am on Tuesday as he was handing over six bags of cash totaling 1.5 billion West African CFA francs ($2.5 million) to the commander. Boko was arrested separately overnight Monday to Tuesday in Benin’s economic capital of Cotonou.
Boko had recently expressed interest in running for the presidency in 2026, when Talon’s second term in office ends and he is prohibited by the constitution from running again.
Prosecutor Metonou stated that investigations are ongoing to arrest other suspects involved in the plot. This thwarted coup attempt comes amid growing concerns about political instability in the region, with eight successful military coups and numerous attempts since 2020.
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