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Benin’s government says it has successfully stopped an attempted coup after a group of mutinous soldiers announced on state television that they had removed President Patrice Talon from office.
On Sunday, Interior Minister Alassane Seidou revealed that a faction within the military tried to destabilise the country. “A small group of soldiers launched a mutiny with the aim of destabilising the country and its institutions. Faced with this situation, the Beninese Armed Forces and their leadership maintained control of the situation and foiled the attempt,” he said.
Earlier, eight armed soldiers identifying themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR) appeared on state television, claiming they had met and concluded that “Mr Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic.” The group, wearing different coloured berets, declared a lieutenant colonel as the new “president of the CMR”.
They justified their actions by citing worsening insecurity in northern Benin, complaints over the treatment of fallen soldiers’ families, and what they described as “unjust promotions at the expense of the most deserving.”
Shortly after the broadcast, a source close to Talon told AFP that the president remained safe, dismissing the coup attempt as the work of “a small group of people who only control the television.” The presidency also insisted that “The regular army is regaining control. The city and the country are completely secure.”
Despite this, parts of Cotonou were tense by midday. AFP journalists reported hearing gunfire near the presidential offices, which were blocked by soldiers, while other parts of the city continued their normal routines. Another military source confirmed that the coup plotters had failed to seize the president’s residence or official offices.
Soldiers were also reported blocking roads around the presidency, state television, and high-security zones such as the five-star Sofitel hotel and districts hosting international institutions. However, the airport and much of the city remained unaffected.
The West African bloc ECOWAS condemned the attempted takeover, calling it “unconstitutional” and “a subversion of the will of the Beninese people.”
Benin, which has faced several coups since its independence in 1960, has remained relatively stable in recent years. President Talon, 67, came to power in 2016 and is expected to step down in April after two terms marked by economic progress but rising insecurity and criticism over alleged authoritarian practices. With the main opposition barred from the upcoming election, the ruling party is set to compete against what is described as a “moderate” opposition.
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