A group of soldiers in Benin has announced on national television that they have ousted President Patrice Talon and taken control of the country. The announcement included the suspension of the constitution, the closure of all land borders, and the shutdown of the nation’s airspace.
Gunfire was reportedly heard near the president’s residence in Cotonou, according to a statement from the French embassy. However, officials close to the president maintain that he is safe and that the small group of soldiers involved in the TV broadcast does not have the support of the regular army.
“The situation is under control. A large part of the army is still loyalist, and we are taking over the situation,” Foreign Minister Shegun Adjadi Bakari told Reuters. An unnamed source in the presidency told AFP that “this is a small group of people who only control the television. The city and the country are completely secure.”
The soldiers named Lieutenant-Colonel Tigri Pascal as the head of a military transition council, justifying their actions by criticizing President Talon’s management of the country.
President Talon, 67, is due to step down next year after completing his second term, with elections scheduled for April. Known as the “king of cotton,” Talon first came to power in 2016 and had pledged not to seek a third term, already naming a successor.
The French Embassy has urged its citizens to remain indoors for their safety.
Benin, traditionally regarded as one of Africa’s more stable democracies, is the continent’s largest cotton producer but remains among the world’s poorest nations. This apparent coup comes just over a week after the overthrow of Umaro Sissoco Embaló in neighboring Guinea-Bissau.
West Africa has experienced several coups in recent years, including in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, and Niger, raising concerns about regional stability. Additionally, jihadist activity has been increasing in Benin, with groups linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda spreading further south.
The situation remains fluid, with both domestic and international observers closely monitoring developments.
