A group of soldiers appeared on Benin’s state TV announcing the dissolution of the government in an apparent coup attempt in the West Africa nation.
They announced on Sunday the overthrow of President Patrice Talon, who has been in power since 2016, as well as all state institutions.
The troops referred to themselves as part of the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR), and said on state television that they had met and decided that “Mr Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic”.
Talon’s whereabouts were unknown.
The French Embassy said on X that “gunfire was reported at Camp Guezo” near the president’s official residence. It urged French citizens to remain indoors for security.
Following the announcement, the president’s office stated that Talon is safe and that the army is regaining control, according to the AFP news agency.
“This is a small group of people who only control the television,” the presidency told AFP. “The regular army is regaining control. The city and the country are completely secure,” it said.
Talon was due to step down next April after 10 years in power.
A number of coups have taken place across the continent in recent years.
Just last month, army officials in Guinea-Bissau seized power in a military coup with General Horta Inta-A named as the head of a one-year transitional government. The country has has experienced nine coup attempts since its independence from Portugal in 1974.
In 2023, military leader Brice Oligui Nguema toppled Gabon’s then-President Ali Bongo Ondimba, a leader whose family had held power in the country for almost 56 years.
That same year, a coup took out Niger’s Mohamed Bazoum, a democratically elected leader who ruled for just two years before he was forced out of office. A military government was then installed, led by President Abdourahamane Tchiani.
In 2022, Burkina Faso military leader President Paul-Henri Damiba was deposed in the country’s second coup in a year, as army Captain Ibrahim Traore took charge.
In Mali, General Assimi Goita led soldiers to seize power in a 2020 coup.
