Two associates of Benin’s President Patrice Talon have been sentenced to 20 years in prison for their involvement in an alleged coup attempt in the West African nation. The court in Cotonou found the men guilty of ‘conspiracy against state security’ and ‘corruption of a public official,’ among other charges related to financial crimes and terrorism.
Olivier Boko, a prominent businessman and long-time confidant of President Talon, alongside Oswald Homeky, a former sports minister, were arrested in September following accusations of attempting to bribe the head of the presidential guard to orchestrate a coup. Homeky was apprehended while allegedly handing six bags of money to the commander of the president’s security detail, AP reported.
The special prosecutor in the case, Elonm Mario Metonou, stated that Homeky had directly approached Col. Djimon Dieudonne Tevoedjre, head of the presidential guard, with plans to overthrow Talon’s government. Boko, seen as Talon’s close ally, was arrested separately and charged as the mastermind behind the conspiracy. Several politicians, including Homeky, had backed Boko in a potential bid for the 2026 presidential election, further complicating the political landscape.
A third individual, Rock Nieri, Boko’s brother-in-law, was sentenced in absentia after fleeing the country. All three were ordered to pay CFA60bn (about $95 million) in damages to the Beninese state, along with personal fines of CFA4.5bn (about $6.8 million) each.
Although Benin has maintained stability in its democratic processes, opposition leaders and human rights groups have criticised President Talon’s government for alleged political repression. Following his re-election in 2021, Talon made a pledge not to seek a third term in 2026, adhering to the country’s constitutional limit of two presidential terms.
The courtroom drama unfolded with no representation from the defendants’ lawyers, who had withdrawn in protest over the court’s composition. Despite the legal controversy, the verdict has raised questions about the integrity of Benin’s justice system, with critics accusing Talon’s government of using the judiciary to target political opponents.
The case highlights rising tensions in Benin, once regarded as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies. However, the political climate has shifted since Talon’s rise to power in 2016, with his government making controversial changes to electoral laws and facing mounting allegations of suppressing dissent.
