Benin President Patrice Talon said on Sunday that the government and armed forces had thwarted a coup attempt by a group of soldiers in the West African nation, vowing to punish those who carried it out.

Talon's announcement on Sunday evening came about 12 hours after gunfire first rang out in several neighbourhoods of Cotonou, the biggest city, and soldiers went on state television to claim they had removed Talon from power.

The rapid mobilisation of forces loyal to the government"allowed us to thwart these adventurers," Talon said in his remarks aired on state television.

"This treachery will not go unpunished."

The coup attempt began in the early hours of Sunday, sources said, with an attack on the president's official residence in Cotonou.

The French Embassy said on X that “gunfire was reported at Camp Guezo” near the president’s home and urged French citizens to remain indoors for security.

Soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri then took over the national television station and declared that Talon had been “removed from office”.

"The army solemnly commits to give the Beninese people the hope of a truly new era, where fraternity, justice and work prevail," said a statement read by one of the soldiers who was flanked by half a dozen others, several wearing helmets.

"The constitution is suspended. All institutions are dissolved (and) political party activities suspended until further notice."

The presidential office later told the AFP news agency that Talon was safe and that the army was regaining control.

“This is a small group of people who only control the television,” his office said. “The regular army is regaining control. The city and the country are completely secure.”

A few hours later, Interior Minister Alassane Seidou said the West African country's armed forces had thwarted the attempted coup.

"Therefore, the government urges the population to go about their business as usual," he said.

A government spokesperson, Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji, said that 14 people had been arrested in connection with the coup attempt as of Sunday afternoon, without providing details.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional bloc condemned the attempted coup.

“ECOWAS strongly condemns this unconstitutional move that represents a subversion of the will of the people of Benin ... ECOWAS will support the Government and the people in all forms necessary, including the deployment of the regional standby force, to defend the Constitution and the territorial integrity of Benin,” the bloc said in a statement.

Talon has been in power since 2016 and was due to step down next April after the presidential election.

Talon’s party pick, former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, was the favorite to win the election. Opposition candidate Renaud Agbodjo was rejected by the electoral commission on the grounds that he did not have sufficient sponsors.

Last month, the country’s legislature extended the presidential term of office from five to seven years, keeping the term limit at two.

West Africa.

Last week, a military coup in Guinea-Bissau removed former President Umaro Embalo after a contested election in which both he and the opposition candidate declared themselves winners.