Benin Says it Has Thwarted a Planned Coup

Elonm Mario Metonou, special prosecutor at Benin’s court for financial crimes and terrorism, told the media that Homeky was arrested in the wee hours of Tuesday morning as he was handing over bags of cash containing 1.5 billion West African CFA Francs ($2.5 million) to Col. Djimon Dieudonne Tevoedjre, commander of the Republican Guard, the unit responsible for the president’s security. The money was allegedly a bribe for Tevoedjre to look the other way during the coup.

The three, and any further suspects, are expected to be arraigned at the Economic Crimes and Terrorism Court (CRIET) on grave charges, most likely including treason. Notably, CRIET sentenced opposition politician Joel Aivo to 10 years in prison on charges of treason and money laundering in late 2021, months after President Patrice Talon won a second term in office. Aivo, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, said his trial and conviction were politically motivated. According to observers, Benin’s political landscape has become more repressive under Talon, and CRIET, which was set up in 2016, the same year Talon came into office, has been accused of being a tool used in persecuting the president’s opponents.

Last year, Homeky resigned from his post as sports minister after offering support for Boko’s bid to succeed Talon after his term expires in 2026. Lawyers and supporters of both politicians have condemned their arrests as “a serious violation of fundamental rights” and “obvious political persecution.” Boko’s lawyers said his family doesn’t know where he’s being held and are concerned for his safety and well-being.

Talon, who has repeatedly stated that he will leave office after his second and constitutionally-mandated final term is over, is yet to endorse a potential successor and many of his critics believe he’s biding his time before looking to run for a third term. In 2017, Talon had attempted (and failed) to amend the presidential term to a single six-year term, but now many believe there’s a possibility that the current national assembly, which is controlled by the two parties loyal to Talon, could amend the constitution to extend the incumbent’s time in office.

In a 2022 article, political analyst Omar Arouna accused Talon of gearing up for a third term, attributing a sinister quote — “democracy can lead to anarchy and paralyze government decisions… and I don’t intend to fully implement it” — to Talon, which he said was from a speech at a gathering where French President Emmanuel Macron was in attendance. While the full context of the quote isn’t in Arouna’s article, there are some alleged signs that Talon plans to stay in office beyond 2026.

During last year’s parliamentary elections, there were allegations of ballot stuffing and election rigging, as only 38 percent of voters went to the polls. With opposition parties further pushed to the fringes, it was seemingly a show of how well Talon has tightened his grip on power.

With arrests made and arraignment expected, the substantiveness of the coup attempt may continue to be uncertain — if ever fully clarified. Also, democratically-elected governments in West and Central Africa are on high alert considering the coups that have taken place in Gabon, Guinea and the recently allied trio of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali.

Talon has shown his unacceptance of coups in neighboring countries. After Niger’s former president, Mohamed Bazoum, was removed in a coup last year, Talon whipped up Beninese citizens to protest against the coup and clamor for Bazoum’s reinstatement, which caused Niger’s junta to close off its borders with Benin. The border closure drove up the already high cost of living in Benin, as it exports staple products to Niger.

Talon’s intolerance of coups is warranted, but there are those who will question whether the arrest of Homeky and Boko, both having fallen out of favor with him, is a preemptive move for self-preservation ahead of a third-term attempt, or to ensure a better-favored candidate succeeds him in less than two years.