Beninese authorities have remanded about 30 suspects—most of them soldiers—in custody over their alleged involvement in a foiled coup attempt against President Patrice Talon.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that the suspects were arraigned on Monday before a special prosecutor at the Court for the Repression of Economic Crimes and Terrorism (CRIET) in Cotonou, Benin’s commercial capital.
After hours of questioning, they were ordered into pre-trial detention on Tuesday.
The defendants are facing grave charges, including treason, murder, and endangering state security, stemming from the failed attempt to overthrow the government.
The alleged coup plot came to public attention on December 7, when a group of soldiers appeared on national television claiming that President Talon had been deposed. The announcement, however, was quickly overturned as loyalist forces moved in to suppress the mutiny.
Security sources said the attempted putsch was neutralised with support from the Nigerian Air Force and French special forces, reflecting heightened regional and international concern over rising instability in West Africa.
Several people were reportedly killed during clashes linked to the failed coup, while the alleged mastermind, Lieutenant-Colonel Pascal Tigri, and other mutinous soldiers are still at large.
An AFP journalist observed a heavy security presence around the court premises on Tuesday, underscoring the sensitivity of the proceedings.
In a related development, Chabi Yayi, son of former Beninese president and opposition leader Thomas Boni Yayi, was released on Monday after being questioned in connection with the coup attempt.
Despite his release, sources said he remains under prosecution, although authorities have yet to publicly disclose the specific grounds.
Chabi Yayi is a member of the opposition party led by his father, a factor that has further heightened political tensions in the country.
President Talon, who is expected to hand over power in April after completing the constitutionally permitted two terms, has been praised by supporters for boosting economic growth.
Critics, however, accuse his administration of authoritarian practices in a nation once regarded as a model of democratic stability in West Africa