Benin’s President Patrice Talon on Sunday said the “situation is completely under control” after loyalist forces thwarted an attempted coup earlier in the day.
The crisis began when a group of soldiers appeared on state television announcing that they had ousted President Talon from office. The declaration triggered an immediate response from loyal units within the Beninese armed forces, supported by air strikes from neighbouring Nigeria and the deployment of troops from other countries in the region.
Beninese military and security sources confirmed that around a dozen soldiers had been arrested in connection with the coup attempt, including those identified as its main orchestrators.
Addressing the nation on state broadcaster Benin TV, President Talon sought to reassure citizens and restore calm. “I would like to assure you that the situation is completely under control and therefore invite you to calmly go about your activities starting this very evening,” he said.
The attempted coup comes against the backdrop of a wave of military takeovers across West Africa in recent years. Countries such as Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger and most recently Guinea-Bissau have all experienced coups, heightening regional concerns about political stability and the role of the military in governance.
President Talon, who has been in power for nearly a decade, is due to hand over power in April next year after 10 years in office marked by periods of solid economic growth. However, his administration has also faced mounting security challenges, particularly in the northern part of the country where militant activity linked to instability in the Sahel has raised concerns.
Earlier on Sunday, soldiers describing themselves as members of the “Military Committee for Refoundation” announced on state television that they had met and decided that “Mr Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic.” The announcement was short-lived, as loyalist forces quickly regained control and moved to neutralise those behind the coup bid.
