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

BREAKING: Soldiers Announce Coup in Benin Republic, Declare President Patrice Talon Removed

A group of soldiers in the Benin Republic on Sunday announced the removal of President Patrice Talon, claiming control of the government in what appears to be the latest military takeover in West Africa.

The soldiers, identifying themselves as members of the “Military Committee for Refoundation (CMR)”, made the declaration on state television, stating that they had resolved that “Mr. Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic.”

The announcement followed reports of heavy gunfire near Camp Guezo, close to the president’s official residence in Cotonou. The French Embassy confirmed the security situation on X, urging its nationals to remain indoors after multiple gunshots were heard in the area.

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Beninese media reported that the president’s residence in the Le Guézo neighbourhood was attacked by soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri. Tigri later appeared on national television—said to be under military control—declaring himself chairman of a “military re-establishment committee.”

As of press time, President Talon’s whereabouts remain unknown, and the government has yet to issue an official statement. The situation in Cotonou is described as extremely volatile, with troop movements observed at strategic locations across the capital.

President Talon, in office since 2016, was expected to step down in April 2026 after completing his second term. The development adds to a growing list of military coups in West Africa, including those in Guinea-Bissau, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.

BREAKING: Soldiers Announce Coup in Benin Republic, Declare President Patrice Talon Removed

South Africa Horror: Gunmen Kill 11 in Pretoria Hostel Shebeen Attack

Eleven people, including a three-year-old child, have been killed after gunmen stormed a hostel in Pretoria, South Africa’s capital, in what authorities described as a deadly attack linked to an illegal shebeen operating within the premises. The assault is the latest in a series of mass shootings that continue to shock the crime-ridden nation of 63 million people.

Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed that 25 people were shot, with 14 victims hospitalised. Ten persons died at the scene in Saulsville township, about 18 kilometres west of Pretoria, while another victim later died in hospital. Among the dead were a 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl.

According to police, three gunmen entered the unlicensed drinking venue at around 4:30 am and opened fire indiscriminately on patrons who were drinking at the time. The motive remains unknown, and no arrests have been made as a manhunt continues.

Mathe highlighted that illegal and unlicensed liquor outlets remain hotspots for the majority of South Africa’s mass shootings, adding that “innocent people also get caught up in the crossfire.”

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South Africa, the continent’s most industrialised nation, is grappling with entrenched crime, widespread corruption, and a surge in violent attacks often fuelled by gang violence and alcohol abuse. The country has one of the highest murder rates in the world, with police reporting 63 killings per day between April and September.

While many South Africans legally own firearms for protection, a vast number of illegal guns circulate nationwide, contributing to frequent violent outbreaks.

Recent incidents underscore the worsening violence:

• In October, two teenagers were killed and five others injured in a gang-related shooting in Johannesburg.
• In May, eight patrons were gunned down at a tavern in Durban.
• Last year, 18 members of the same family were shot dead at a rural home in Eastern Cape Province.

Authorities say the latest Pretoria mass shooting further highlights the urgent need to tackle illegal firearms, unlicensed alcohol outlets, and the growing influence of organised crime networks across South Africa.

South Africa Horror: Gunmen Kill 11 in Pretoria Hostel Shebeen Attack