Three men, including a former minister and the head of President Patrice Talon’s security detail, have been arrested in Benin on suspicion of orchestrating a coup, according to the state prosecutor.
Oswald Homeky, a former sports minister, was apprehended on Tuesday while reportedly handing over six bags of cash to Elonm Mario Metonou, the commander of the Republican Guard, during what investigators say was an attempt to bribe him not to resist a planned coup set for Friday.
Also detained was Colonel Djimon Dieudonne Tevoedjre, accused of accepting the bribe, and Olivier Boko, a businessman and close associate of President Talon, who had recently expressed political ambitions. Boko’s supporters have condemned his arrest, calling it an “abduction,” and are demanding his immediate release.
The prosecutor confirmed that investigations are ongoing to identify additional suspects involved in the alleged plot.
