Military personnel in Benin on Sunday declared that they had removed President Patrice Talon from office, though his aides insisted he was safe and that the army was regaining control.
Talon, 67, a former businessman known as the “cotton king of Cotonou,” is scheduled to step down in April after a decade in power, during which Benin experienced strong economic growth but also rising threats from jihadist groups.
The soldiers, identifying themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR), appeared on state television early Sunday and announced that Talon had been removed from office. The signal was later cut, sparking uncertainty across the country.
A source close to Talon told AFP that the president remained safe, clarifying: “This is a small group controlling only the television. The regular army is regaining control. The city and country are completely secure. It’s just a matter of time before everything returns to normal.”
A military source corroborated that the situation was “under control” and that the coup plotters had not seized Talon’s residence or the presidential offices.
The French Embassy reported gunfire near Camp Guezo, close to the president’s official residence in Cotonou, and advised French citizens to remain indoors.
Benin has a history of coups and attempted takeovers. Talon, who came to power in 2016, is completing his second term, the constitutional limit. The main opposition party has been barred from contesting his succession, leaving the ruling party to face only a “moderate” opposition.
Talon is credited with driving economic development in Benin but has faced criticism for authoritarian practices. The West African region has experienced a string of coups in recent years, including in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau.
