Benin Republic says leader of foiled coup hiding in Togo

Pascal Tigri, the alleged leader of the botched coup inBenin Republic, and his accomplices are said to be hiding in Togo. Beninese soldiers identified Tigri as leader of the mutinyafter they thwarted the coup attempt with support from Nigeria and Côted’Ivoire. While Nigeria carried out targeted air strikes on many ofthe fleeing plotters, Tigri’s whereabouts have been unknown. On Wednesday, Benin government officials told Reuters thatthe ringleader is hiding in Lome 2, a neighbourhood in the Togolese capitalthat also houses the residence of President Faure Gnassingbe. They demanded his immediate extradition. President Patrice Talon vowed retribution for persons behindthe coup attempt, saying “this treachery will not go unpunished”. A memo from Benin’s national intelligence service to itsTogolese counterpart, dated Wednesday and seen by Reuters, said on the day ofthe coup, Tigri had been contacted by someone using a Togolese phone number. “Our department would like to request your support inapprehending and then handing over these fugitive soldiers to the Benineseauthorities by your competent services,” the memo states. A government official said if the Togolese government failsto extradite them to Benin, it would be “proof” that Togo was involved in thecoup attempt.

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