By Uzair Adam
Authorities in the Benin Republic have foiled an attempted coup, leading to the arrest of a former sports minister and a senior military commander.
The plot was allegedly scheduled for Friday, according to a statement from Elonm Metonou, the special prosecutor at Benin’s financial crimes and terrorism court.
On Tuesday night, Oswald Homeky, the former sports minister, was apprehended while handing over six bags of cash, totaling 1.5 billion West African CFA francs (approximately $2.5 million), to Djimon Dieudonne Tevoedjre, the commander of the republican guard and head of security for President Patrice Talon.
The transaction occurred around 1:00 am, and the cash was reportedly transported in Homeky’s Toyota Prado, which bore fake license plates.Prosecutors revealed that the funds were part of a broader conspiracy involving Homeky and Olivier Boko, a businessman and longtime friend of President Talon.
Boko, who was separately arrested on Monday in Cotonou, had recently signaled his intentions to run for the presidency in 2026, when Talon’s second term concludes.
Investigations indicate that Homeky and Boko paid the military commander to ensure no resistance from the republican guard during the planned coup.
Authorities also uncovered that the suspects had opened a bank account under the commander’s name in Côte d’Ivoire on August 6, as part of their preparation.
The arrests come amidst increasing criticism of President Talon’s administration, with detractors accusing him of undermining democratic institutions.
Investigations are ongoing as authorities work to apprehend other individuals involved in the conspiracy.
Since 2020, West Africa has witnessed a wave of military coups and attempts, with Benin now joining the list of nations grappling with threats to its political stability.
Metonou emphasized that efforts are underway to ensure justice is served and to prevent future attempts at destabilizing the country.