Benin’s President Patrice Talon appeared on national television on Sunday evening to assure citizens that an attempted coup earlier in the day had been fully neutralised.
Calm and composed, Talon praised loyalist forces for swiftly defeating what he called “opportunists,” saying the final pockets of resistance had been cleared. The dramatic events began when a group of soldiers briefly seized the national broadcaster, declared the constitution suspended, and reportedly held journalists hostage.
Hours later, explosions echoed across Cotonou, followed by confirmation from Nigeria that its fighter jets had entered Benin’s airspace to help dislodge the rebels from key sites.
Authorities say 14 suspects have been arrested, including several soldiers accused of storming the TV station.
The mutineers, led by Lt Col Pascal Tigri, accused Talon of mismanaging security, neglecting troops fighting jihadists in the north, and presiding over rising taxes and cuts to public services. Talon rejected their claims, calling the plot a “senseless adventure” and expressing condolences to any victims.
The attempted takeover comes amid a wave of coups across West Africa, raising further concerns about regional instability.
Both ECOWAS and the African Union condemned the mutiny, with ECOWAS preparing to deploy a standby force to safeguard Benin’s constitutional order.
