The tiny country of Benin, a former French colony, has enjoyed relative political stability since transforming into a democratic republic in the 1990s.  However, in 2012 the country was rocked by an alleged assassination attempt on its current president Thomas Yayi apparently organized by one of Benin’s richest men, cotton magnate Patrice Talon and the President’s personal doctor.  The attempt was allegedly part of a coup that did not get very far.

Talon sought asylum in France, and France has refused to extradite him on the grounds that it does not believe he would receive a fair trial in Benin.  French President Francois Hollande personally conducted mediation procedures between the two parties, leading to Talon apologizing to President Yayi, who he had supported in the 2006 election, and promising to recuse himself from any political activity in the future.

France has often worked in the role of mediator for its former colonial holdings in Africa, countries which still speak French as an official language and still have strong ties to the European power.  The mediation procedures also included Abdou Diouf, former President of Senegal and current leader of the International Organisation of La Francophonie, a group that seeks to foster good relations between France and its former colonies, bound by a common language.

Despite his announcement of an intention to pardon all of the alleged plotters, including Talon and others being held in Benin prisons, no official word of when the prisoners would be released has been made, and they remain in custody.