Chabi Yayi, the son of former Beninese president and opposition leader Thomas Boni Yayi, has been arrested by security operatives in the early hours of Sunday at his residence.
The arrest comes barely a week after an attempted coup was thwarted in the country, although authorities have not officially disclosed the reason for his detention as of the time of reporting.
A senior member of the Democrats Party, the main opposition party led by Boni Yayi, said it was unclear whether the arrest was connected to the failed coup attempt.
“We cannot confirm if it has any link to what happened last Sunday,” the party member told local media.
Thomas Boni Yayi had earlier condemned the attempted takeover in a video message released two days after the incident.
Since the failed coup on December 7, several individuals have been arrested, including those suspected to be directly involved, a former defence minister, and prominent opposition figure Candide Azannai.
Azannai was subsequently placed in police custody over 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 and outspoken anti-Western commentator Kemi Seba.
Reacting on Sunday, Seba released a video in which he dismissed the warrant and said he had already taken precautionary steps following the move, although he did not reveal his current location.
In the seven-minute video, Seba maintained a defiant tone, insisting that the warrant would not silence him as tensions remain high in Benin following the foiled coup attempt.
