Former Beninese Defense Minister and prominent opposition figure Candide Azannaï was remanded in custody on Saturday, notably facing charges of "conspiracy against the authority of the State" in connection with the investigation into the attempted coup that was foiled in early December, an AFP journalist observed.

Five soldiers were also remanded in custody on Saturday in connection with the same case.

On December 7, military personnel claimed on national television to have ousted President Patrice Talon. The coup was ultimately thwarted the same day by the Beninese army, which received support from neighboring Nigeria and France.

Several people have died and mutineers, including their leader, Lieutenant-Colonel Pascal Tigri, are still on the run.

On Tuesday, around thirty people, mostly military personnel, were also arrested in connection with the attempted coup and are being prosecuted for "treason", "murder" and "attack on state security".

Candide Azannaï was placed under arrest warrant on Saturday morning after several hours of hearing before the Court for the Repression of Economic Crimes and Terrorism (Criet).

He is being prosecuted for "conspiracy against the authority of the State" and "direct incitement to rebellion".

Dressed in a suit, looking calm, the former minister left the court premises in the early morning under police escort, wearing a bulletproof vest, before being taken into custody, an AFP journalist observed.

In a separate proceeding related to the same case, five soldiers were also detained. They are being prosecuted for "failure to report a crime".

Candide Azannaï, president of the opposition party Restore Hope (RE), was arrested last week at the headquarters of his political party in Cotonou.

Benin has also issued an international arrest warrant against the pan-Africanist and anti-Western influencer Kemi Seba for his support of the attempted coup.

President Patrice Talon is due to step down next April after two terms, the maximum allowed by the Constitution.

AFP