Beninese authorities have announced that 31 people have been placed in pre-trial detention in connection with the failed coup attempt targeting President Patrice Talon on December 7.
Those detained include 30 military personnel of various ranks and one civilian. They face charges of “treason,” “endangering state security,” “attempted assassination,” and “collusion with foreign powers.”
According to media reports, some of the suspects are accused of direct involvement in attacks on key sites, including the residences of the president, the army chief of staff, and the head of the president’s military cabinet. The attacks resulted in the death of the latter’s wife.
Meanwhile, authorities have released the son of former president Thomas Boni Yayi after questioning him, while noting that he may be summoned again at a later stage.
Security forces are continuing to pursue other suspects believed to have fled abroad.
Benin has also submitted a formal request to neighboring Togo seeking the extradition of the alleged ringleader of the plot, Colonel Pascal Tigri, along with three other military officers. Investigators say there was contact between Tigri and a Togolese phone number on the day of the attempted coup.
