Candide Azannai
Benin Republic has placed Candide Azannai, former defence minister and prominent opposition politician, in pre-trial detention as part of an investigation into the recent coup attempt.
Azannai was arrested last week at his party’s headquarters in Cotonou. He is being accused of plotting against the state and incitement to rebellion.
The former minister was reportedly escorted away at dawn by police before being taken into custody, after several hours of questioning at Benin’s anti-terrorism court.
The detention follows the arrest of around 30 people, mostly soldiers on Tuesday, on grounds of treason.
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Earlier this month, a group, which labelled itself the Military Committee for Refoundation, announced that the Benin Republic president and all political officeholders have been effectively removed, and that all institutions have been dissolved.
The presidency subsequently announced that Talon was safe and the “regular” army had regained control.
Several people were reportedly killed in the attempted coup, while some of the mutineers, including Pascal Tigri, alleged coup leader remain on the run.
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West Africa has witnessed an uptick in successful and foiled coup attempts since 2020.
Last month, military officers in Guinea-Bissau captured power after President Umaro Embaló, who was seeking re-election, and Fernando Dias, his main opponent, both declared victory in the country’s election even though the electoral commission had not released official results.
Other West African states under military rule include Burkina Faso (2022), Guinea (2021), Mali (2020) and Niger (2023).
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