Benin Detains About 30, Mostly Soldiers, Over Failed Coup Attempt

Benin authorities have jailed about 30 people, most of them soldiers, over their alleged involvement in a failed coup attempt earlier this month, according to legal sources.

The suspects were presented on Monday before a special prosecutor at the Court for Economic Crimes and Terrorism in Cotonou and were placed in pre-trial detention on Tuesday after their hearings. They are facing charges that include treason, murder and endangering state security.

The coup attempt unfolded on December 7, when a group of soldiers appeared on national television claiming that President Patrice Talon had been removed from power. The announcement was short-lived, as loyalist forces quickly regained control, with reported support from the Nigerian air force and French special forces. The uprising was put down the same day.

Several people were killed during the incident, and the alleged leader of the coup, Lieutenant-Colonel Pascal Tigri, along with other suspected mutineers, remains at large.

Security was visibly reinforced around the court in Cotonou during the proceedings, according to journalists on the ground.

In a related development, Chabi Yayi, son of opposition figure and former president Thomas Boni Yayi, was released on Monday after questioning. While he is no longer in custody, he remains under prosecution in connection with the failed coup, though authorities have not disclosed specific details. He is a member of the opposition party led by his father.

President Talon, who has been credited by supporters with driving economic growth, has also faced criticism from opponents who accuse his administration of authoritarian tendencies. He is expected to step down in April after completing the constitutionally permitted two terms in office, as Benin continues to grapple with jihadist violence in its northern regions.