Chabi Yayi, son of former Beninese president and opposition leader Thomas Boni Yayi, was arrested at his residence in the early hours of Sunday, according to family members and close associates.
Relatives said no official reason was given for the arrest, which comes barely a week after an attempted coup in the country. Those close to him said they were uncertain whether his detention was connected to the foiled plot.
A friend of the family and member of the Democrats party, the main opposition party led by Boni Yayi, said there was no information yet on the allegations against him. The former president had publicly condemned the coup attempt in a video address two days after the incident.
Since the December 7 abortive putsch, security agencies in Benin have carried out a series of arrests. Among those detained is former defence minister and prominent opposition figure, Candide Azannai, who has been placed in police custody on allegations of conspiracy against the authority of the state and incitement to rebellion.
Authorities have also issued an international arrest warrant for pan-Africanist activist Kemi Seba, accusing him of inciting rebellion over his open support for the attempted coup, which he described as a “day of liberation” for Benin.
In a video released on Sunday, Seba responded defiantly to the warrant, saying he had taken precautions since it was issued but declining to disclose his current location. He vowed to continue his activism despite the charges.
Seba, whose real name is Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi, is the head of the Pan-Africanist Emergency NGO and is known for his strong anti-Western and anti-French positions, as well as his criticism of African governments aligned with Paris. He commands a large online following of about 1.5 million people.
Born with dual Franco-Beninese nationality, Seba lost his French citizenship in 2024 and now travels on a passport issued by Niger’s military authorities. He has publicly expressed support for military regimes that seized power in parts of the Sahel and maintain close ties with Russia.
Meanwhile, several figures linked to the failed coup, including its alleged leader, Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, are still being sought by security forces.
