According to a security alert issued by the French Embassy in Cotonou, heavy gunfire was heard near the president’s residence in the country’s commercial capital, where the seat of government is located.
Troops in Benin have declared that they have taken control of the government and removed President Patrice Talon from office, making the announcement in a broadcast on national television early Friday.
According to a security alert issued by the French Embassy in Cotonou, heavy gunfire was heard near the president’s residence in the country’s commercial capital, where the seat of government is located.
The soldiers who appeared on television also proclaimed the suspension of the constitution and ordered the immediate closure of all land borders and national airspace.
However, sources close to the presidency insist that the attempted takeover is being carried out by only a small faction of soldiers and does not have the support of the wider military.
Foreign Minister Shegun Adjadi Bakari, speaking to Reuters, assured the public that the government still retains control.
“The situation is under control. The majority of the army remains loyal, and efforts are ongoing to restore order,” he said.
A presidency official, speaking anonymously to AFP, described the mutineers as a limited group who managed only to seize the state television station.
“The city and the country remain secure,” the source added.
President Talon’s exact location remains unknown at this time.
Witnesses in Cotonou reported military helicopters circling overhead and significant troop deployments across major streets. Several roads have been sealed off, worsening tension in the usually calm coastal city.
Benin, a former French colony long regarded as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies, is a major cotton producer but ranks among the poorest nations globally.
As uncertainty deepened, the French and Russian embassies urged their nationals to remain indoors. The U.S. Embassy advised citizens to avoid Cotonou entirely, especially areas surrounding the presidential palace.
During the televised announcement, the mutinous soldiers declared that Lt-Col Tigri Pascal would head a newly formed military transition council. They accused President Talon of mismanaging national affairs and promised a new beginning for the country.
“The army pledges to bring a new era rooted in fraternity, justice, and hard work,” the statement said.
President Talon, 67, is nearing the end of his second and final term, with elections scheduled for April. A wealthy businessman nicknamed the “king of cotton,” he was first elected in 2016 and has publicly committed not to seek a third term. He has thrown his support behind Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni as his preferred successor.
Although Talon is credited with economic reforms, critics accuse his administration of shrinking democratic space and silencing opposition voices.
In October, the electoral commission disqualified the main opposition candidate over insufficient endorsements. Last month, lawmakers approved constitutional amendments creating a Senate and extending terms for elected officials from five to seven years, while retaining the presidential two-term cap.
This attempted coup follows closely on the heels of the military overthrow of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló in neighbouring Guinea-Bissau just over a week ago.
The event intensifies concerns about escalating instability in West Africa, where countries such as Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Niger have experienced coups in recent years.
Russia has strengthened alliances with several of these nations, and Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have withdrawn from ECOWAS to form the Alliance of Sahel States. Meanwhile, Benin has faced a surge in jihadist attacks as extremist groups linked to ISIS and al-Qaeda expand their operations southward.
Authorities and international partners are closely monitoring the situation as tension in the region continues to rise.
Join us on our WhatsApp Platform @KOIKIMEDIA NEWS YOUR PAGE
KoikiMedia Bringing the World 🌎 closer to Your Doorstep