The government of Benin has announced arrest warrants for individuals accused of orchestrating a failed coup, with President Patrice Talon urging regional cooperation to ensure their capture and extradition.
At a press conference at the Marina Palacein Cotonou on Thursday, Talon identified Col. Pascal Tigri as the chief suspect, noting that he and several accomplices fled across international borders after the plot collapsed.
The president also confirmed that airstrikes were carried out against some of the conspirators in the aftermath of the attempted takeover.
For over an hour and a half, the head of state answered journalists’ questions. Two major topics dominated the discussions: the aftermath of the foiled coup attempt of December 7 and the entry into force of the revised Constitution.
According to Talon, the suspects escaped across international borders following a military operation launched in response to the attempted takeover.
He disclosed that airstrikes were carried out against some of the conspirators in the immediate aftermath of the incident, although key figures managed to evade capture.
“Tigri himself left the camp in civilian clothes and in a car. He abandoned the boy and left the camp. When the strike took place, he was no longer there,” Talon said.
“So they were able to cross the border. We launched the arrest warrants against them. We asked the concerned countries to cooperate and deliver them to us,” the president added.
Talon stressed that the Beninese authorities had formally reached out to countries believed to be harbouring the fugitives, urging them to respect regional security agreements and facilitate the suspects’ arrest and extradition.
“I hope they will cooperate and deliver them to us. Because they have to answer,” he said, insisting that those behind the attempted coup would be held accountable.
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