Benin govt says coup attempt foiled as soldiers seize state TV, gunfire rocks Cotonou

Benin govt says coup attempt foiled as soldiers seize state TV, gunfire rocks Cotonou

The Government of Benin announced on Sunday that its armed forces had foiled a coup attempt, hours after a group of soldiers appeared on state television claiming to have overthrown President Patrice Talon.

The attempted coup marks the latest challenge to democratic stability in West Africa, a region that has witnessed a wave of military takeovers in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and most recently Guinea-Bissau.

Earlier on Sunday, at least eight soldiers, some wearing helmets, appeared on national TV, declaring that a military committee led by Colonel Tigri Pascal had taken power, dissolved national institutions, suspended the constitution, and closed all borders.
“The army solemnly commits to give the Beninese people the hope of a truly new era,” one soldier said on air.

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However, Interior Minister Alassane Seidou later stated that the coup attempt had been thwarted. “The government urges the population to go about their business as usual,” he said.

Foreign Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari confirmed to Reuters that “a small group” of soldiers attempted to overthrow the government but had managed only to seize the state broadcaster, while loyal forces worked to restore order.

Gunfire was reported across several Cotonou neighbourhoods early Sunday as residents headed to church. The French Embassy warned citizens to stay indoors after shots were heard near President Talon’s residence.

The coup attempt comes ahead of the April presidential election, which is expected to mark the end of Talon’s tenure after two terms in office. Though credited with reviving economic growth, Talon’s administration has faced rising jihadist attacks in northern Benin, including an April assault that killed 54 soldiers.

Tensions have also been heightened by a newly adopted constitution extending the presidential term from five to seven years — a move critics called a power grab. Meanwhile, opposition candidate nominations have faced disputes, with the Democrats party seeing its proposed candidate disqualified by a court.

Benin govt says coup attempt foiled as soldiers seize state TV, gunfire rocks Cotonou