A Benin Court on Tuesday, May 12, sentenced opposition figure, Soumaïla Sounon Boke, to five years in prison over his alleged connection to a failed coup attempt in December, 2025.
Boke, a former MP from the opposition party The Democrats, was found guilty of encouraging crimes against state security after allegedly posting the message “It’s a party” shortly after news of the attempted coup emerged on December 7. The attempted coup briefly saw soldiers announce on national television that President Patrice Talon had been removed from office before the plot was foiled later the same day.
Boke was arrested on December 16 and later placed in pre-trial detention. On Tuesday, Benin’s Court for the Repression of Economic Crimes and Terrorism sentenced him to five years in prison and fined him 10 million CFA francs, approximately $17,000, for advocating crimes against state security and inciting rebellion through electronic communication.
Boke denied supporting the coup attempt, insisting the message was mistakenly sent and intended for a private conversation among friends planning a reunion. He has 15 days to appeal the ruling. President Patrice Talon is expected to step down on May 24 and hand over power to his elected successor, Romuald Wadagni.