Benin’s Interior Minister, Alassane Seidou, announced on Sunday that security forces successfully stopped an attempted coup staged by a small group of soldiers who claimed to have removed President Patrice Talon from office.
According to Seidou, “A small group of soldiers launched a mutiny with the aim of destabilising the country and its institutions. Faced with this situation, the Beninese Armed Forces and their leadership maintained control of the situation and foiled the attempt.”
Earlier, the soldiers calling themselves the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR) appeared on state television, declaring that “Mr Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic.”
However, officials close to President Talon dismissed the claims, assuring the public that he was unharmed. Talon, who has led Benin for a decade and is expected to leave office in April, was confirmed safe.
His office told AFP, “This is a small group of people who only control the television. The regular army is regaining control. The city and the country are completely secure.”
Authorities say full control has since been restored, and normalcy has returned across the nation.
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