Benin's security forces have been on high alert after a series of attacks linked to violence from a jihadist uprising with origins in the Sahel region that has spilt across its borders.
26th September 2024 02:29 AM 
Benin prosecutors said three prominent men including a presidential guard commander have been arrested on suspicion of planning a "coup d'etat" in the small West African nation.
The other two accused of attempting a putsch are a former sports minister and a businessman close to President Patrice Talon.
Special prosecutor at Benin's court for financial crimes and terrorism, Elonm Metonou, said the alleged coup was planned to take place on Friday.
Metonou revealed that the Republican Guard commander in charge of the president's security, Djimon Tevoedjre, was engaged by the minister Oswald Homeky and Olivier Boko to carry out a coup on September 27, 2024.
The court said Homeky was detained as he was handing over six bags of cash totaling 2.5 million dollars to commander Tevoedjre.
It also revealed that Boko, known as a longtime friend of President Patrice Talon, was arrested separately in Benin's economic capital of Cotonou.
Boko had recently started indicating that he would make a run for the presidency in 2026 when Talon's second term in office ends.
