Cotonou, Benin — Benin’s President Patrice Talon Praises Army for Thwarting Coup Attempt. Benin’s President Patrice Talon has expressed gratitude to the nation’s army for successfully thwarting an attempted military coup.
The president vowed that those responsible for the coup would face punishment.
The attempted coup took place on Sunday morning when a group of soldiers, identifying themselves as the Military Committee for Refoundation, seized control of state television and announced the dissolution of the government.
However, within hours, the minister of interior announced that the takeover attempt had been “foiled. I would like to commend the sense of duty of our army and its leaders who remained republican and loyal to the nation, “Talon. “.
This commitment and mobilization allowed us to thwart these adventurers and save our country.
This treachery will not go unpunished. Officials commented on the matter.
According to local reports, thirteen soldiers have been arrested in connection with the coup attempt, but it is unclear whether the coup leader, Lt Col Pascal Tigri, is among them. Gunfire was reported in some areas, but the capital has remained relatively calm since the coup attempt was announced. Regional officials confirmed that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has deployed troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, and Ghana to support Benin’s army in preserving constitutional order and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Benin.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu praised the Nigerian armed forces for their involvement in restoring the government in Benin.
The Nigerian government’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, stated that Benin’s government made two separate requests for air and ground forces. Benin, which gained independence from France in 1960, has experienced multiple coups since then.
However, the country has been politically stable since 1991, following the two-decade rule of Marxist-Leninist Mathieu Kérékou. Talon has been in power since 2016 and is due to step down next April after a presidential election. Further details regarding casualties, hostages, and the fate of the coup leader are expected to be released in the coming days.
Source: Benin hunts soldiers behind failed coup — Vanguardngr.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
