Cotonou (TDI): Benin President Patrice Talon announced on Sunday that a coup attempt by a group of soldiers had been foiled, pledging swift retribution against those involved.
The unrest began roughly 12 hours earlier, when gunfire erupted in multiple neighbourhoods of Cotonou, the country’s largest city and commercial hub. Soldiers appeared on state television claiming to have removed Talon from power.
In a televised address, Talon said forces loyal to him had “stood firm, recaptured our positions, and cleared the last pockets of resistance held by the mutineers.” He added, “This commitment and mobilisation enabled us to defeat these adventurers and prevent the worst for our country. This treachery will not go unpunished.”
Talon expressed concern for both the victims of the coup attempt and those reportedly held by fleeing mutineers, though details of casualties or hostages remain unclear.
The incident marks a rare threat to Benin’s stability in a region where military takeovers have recently occurred in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and, just last month, Guinea-Bissau. The last successful coup in Benin, however, took place in 1972.
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A government spokesperson confirmed that 14 people had been arrested in connection with the attempt. At Benin’s request, Nigeria dispatched fighter jets to secure the country’s airspace and help reclaim the state television network and a military camp, while also sending ground troops, according to a statement from Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s office.
Regional organisations swiftly condemned the attempt. ECOWAS, West Africa’s regional bloc, announced it had deployed standby forces from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, and Ghana, while the African Union also voiced condemnation.
Earlier on Sunday, at least eight armed soldiers appeared on state television, announcing that a military committee led by Colonel Tigri Pascal had dissolved national institutions, suspended the constitution, and closed all borders. They cited deteriorating security in northern Benin and neglect of fallen soldiers as justification.
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Talon, credited with reviving the Beninese economy since 2016, has faced growing challenges from militant attacks that have affected neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso. According to Foreign Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, the mutineers only briefly controlled the state TV network.
Gunfire was reported across Cotonou in the morning, prompting police deployment at major intersections. Residents, including furniture salesman Narcisse, described fear and uncertainty as they heard continuous shots and explosions.
