Trending 
About 30 people, mostly soldiers, have been jailed over alleged links to a foiled coup attempt in Benin earlier in December 2025.
AFP reports that around 30 accused appeared in front of a special prosecutor for the Court for Economic Crimes and Terrorism in Cotonou and were placed in pre-trial detention the following day, at the end of their hearing.
They are being prosecuted for “treason”, “murder” and “endangering state security”, the sources added. Heavy security deployment was seen around the court.
On December 7, soldiers went on national television to announce that President Patrice Talon had been deposed, but the attempted coup was quickly crushed by loyalist forces, with support from the Nigerian air force and French special forces.
Several people were killed, and the alleged coup leader, Lieutenant-Colonel Pascal Tigri and other mutinous soldiers are still on the run.
Meanwhile, Chabi Yayi, son of former Beninese president and current opposition figure Thomas Boni Yayi, was released on Monday after being questioned but remains under prosecution in connection with the coup.
Although hailed for spurring economic growth, Talon is accused by critics of authoritarianism in a country once praised for its democratic dynamism.
He is due to hand over the reins of power in April after the maximum-allowed two terms leading Benin, which in recent years has been hit by jihadist violence in the north.
