Benin arrests Chabi Yayi, son of former president Thomas Boni Yayi, amid a crackdown following a failed coup, with several others detained
COTONOU: The son of Benin’s former president and current opposition leader has been arrested, according to family sources.
Chabi Yayi, son of Thomas Boni Yayi, was detained early Sunday at his home.
The arrest comes one week after authorities foiled a coup attempt in the West African nation.
No official reason has been given for his detention.
“At this time, we don’t know what he is accused of,” one relative told AFP.
Another close associate suggested the arrest could be linked to the previous week’s events.
Thomas Boni Yayi publicly condemned the abortive coup in a video address two days after it occurred.
Several arrests have followed the December 7 putsch attempt.
Those detained include several participants and former defence minister Candide Azannai.
Azannai, a key opposition figure, was placed in custody for “conspiracy against the authority of the State and incitement to rebellion”.
Benin has also issued an international arrest warrant for pan-Africanist influencer Kemi Seba.
Several individuals behind the failed coup remain at large.
This includes their alleged leader, Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri. – AFP
