Cotonou, Benin — Benin’s President Patrice Talon has declared the situation “completely under control “following the government’s successful thwarting of a coup attempt on Sunday.
The attempted coup, led by a group of soldiers calling themselves the Military Committee for Refoundation, was swiftly repelled by loyal army forces and supported by Nigerian troops.
On Sunday morning, soldiers stormed the national television, announcing the removal of President Talon and the dissolution of the government.
Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri was named as the president of the military committee.
However, by the afternoon, Interior Minister Alassane Seidou confirmed that the Beninese Armed Forces had foiled the mutiny. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu confirmed deploying fighter jets and ground troops to Benin in response to Talon’s requests for immediate military support.
The ECOWAS has also announced its support for Benin, ordering the deployment of a regional troop to assist in preserving constitutional order. President Talon addressed the nation, assuring citizens that the situation was under control and inviting them to resume their activities. He expressed his condolences to the victims of the attempted coup and vowed to punish those responsible.
A government spokesperson announced the arrest of 14 individuals in connection with the coup attempt, though the fate of Lieutenant Colonel Tigri remains unclear.
The attempted coup comes amid a wave of military takeovers in West Africa, with recent coups in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad, Guinea, and Guinea — Bissau.
The African Union Commission Chairperson and the United Nations Secretary — General have both condemned the attempted coup, emphasizing the importance of upholding constitutional order.
Further details regarding the events of the coup attempt and the subsequent response are expected to emerge in the coming days. For now, the government of Benin maintains that the situation is stable and that the nation’s democratic institutions remain intact.
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Source: Al Jazeera, Yahoo News, News.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
