Three Arrested in Alleged Benin Coup Plot

Three prominent individuals in Benin, including a Republican Guard commander and former sports minister Oswald Homeky, have been arrested on charges of plotting a coup d'état set for September 27, 2024. Prosecutor Elonm Mario Metonou stated that Homeky was detained while delivering 1.5 billion West African CFA francs ($2.5 million) in cash to the commander responsible for President Patrice Talon's security. Businessman Olivier Boko, also arrested, is known as a close associate of Talon and had recently expressed intentions to run for the presidency in 2026. The arrests come amid heightened security in Benin following a wave of regional instability and a perception of increasing authoritarianism since Talon's rise to power in 2016. Critics contend that the government has stifled democracy, illustrated by the detention of dissenters and political opponents.