COTONOU, Benin — On Thursday, two individuals affiliated with Benin’s president received a sentence of 20 years in prison after being apprehended last year on allegations of attempting to orchestrate a coup in the West African nation.
Olivier Boko, a businessman who is a close associate of President Patrice Talon, and Oswald Homeky, a former minister of sports, were convicted by the court of offenses that included “conspiracy against state security” and “corruption of a public official.” These charges stemmed from their involvement in financial crimes and terrorism in Cotonou, the capital city.
Both men faced arrest in September, with accusations claiming they attempted to bribe the commander of the president’s security forces to facilitate a coup. Reports indicate that Homeky was apprehended while allegedly delivering six bags filled with cash to the head of the presidential guard. This information was provided by Elonm Mario Metonou, the special prosecutor overseeing financial crimes and terrorism cases in Benin.
During the court proceedings, the commander of the presidential guard, Colonel Djimon Dieudonne Tevoedjre, testified that Homeky approached him in September with plans to overthrow Talon. Boko, frequently regarded as Talon’s “right-hand man,” was considered the primary architect behind the coup and faced separate arrest due to his actions. He had notably shown interest in contesting the 2026 presidential election prior to his arrest.
Additionally, Rock Nieri, who is Boko’s brother-in-law and currently evading capture, was also sentenced in absentia on the same allegations.
Despite Benin being recognized as one of Africa’s more stable democracies, critics including opposition leaders and human rights groups have accused Talon of exploiting the judicial system to target political adversaries since taking office in 2016. This scrutiny intensified after he modified electoral regulations, reinforcing his grip on power in 2021.
Following his reelection three years ago, Talon publicly committed to not seeking a third consecutive term in the upcoming 2026 election, as the constitution of Benin restricts the presidency to two terms.
The court’s ruling came amid the absence of legal representatives for the defendants. The lawyers had withdrawn their services in protest against the composition of the court.
In addition to their 20-year prison term, the court mandated that all three men pay a collective sum of 60 billion CFA francs (approximately $95 million) in damages to the Beninese government. Each was also subjected to individual fines amounting to 4.5 billion CFA francs (roughly $6.8 million).
