Gunfire in Cotonou: Army foils military committee’s bid to oust Talon. By Abibu Shehu Ibrahim

Gunfire in Cotonou: Army foils military committee’s bid to oust Talon

The government of Benin has arrested dozens of soldiers following an attempted coup in the early hours of Sunday, military and security sources have confirmed.

The crisis began when a group of soldiers, identifying themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR), appeared on state television to announce the removal of President Patrice Talon from office.

The group said it had met and decided that “Mr Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic.”

The broadcast signal was cut shortly afterwards.

A source close to President Talon later told AFP that the president was safe and that the situation was being stabilised by loyal security forces.

“This is a small group of people who only control the television. The regular army is regaining control.

The city (Cotonou) and the country are completely secure,” the presidential entourage said.

“It’s just a matter of time before everything returns to normal. The clean-up is progressing well.”

A military source also confirmed that the failed plotters had not seized President Talon’s residence or the presidential offices, and that the situation was “under control”.

During the unrest, the French Embassy in Cotonou reported gunfire around Camp Guezo, near the president’s official residence, and advised French citizens to remain indoors for their safety.

An AFP journalist in the city reported that soldiers blocked access to the presidency and the state television headquarters, as well as several areas including the five-star Sofitel hotel and districts housing international agencies.

No military activity was reported at the airport, however, and other parts of the city continued to function normally with residents going about their day.

Benin’s political history has been punctuated by coups and attempted coups since independence from France in 1960.

Recent years have seen similar military takeovers across West Africa, including in Benin’s northern neighbours Niger and Burkina Faso, as well as in Mali, Guinea, and most recently Guinea-Bissau.

Meanwhile, the European Union’s top diplomat has criticised Europe’s failure to support democratic resilience in the Sahel region, as political instability continues to spread across the sub-region.