The army in Benin announced on Sunday that it had regained control of the situation after a coup attempt carried out by a group of soldiers in the morning hours, who had previously announced via public television that they had ousted President Patrice Talon and seized power.
Military sources stated that President Talon is completely safe, and that the soldiers who led the attempt, led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, were unable to control the headquarters of the presidency or the president's residence in the Guezou district of the capital, Cotonou. The sources added that the situation is under control and that a cleansing operation is ongoing to ensure the stability of the capital and the entire country. The soldiers who took control of the government television station had announced the "dismissal of President Talon" and the assumption of the chairmanship of the "Military Committee for Re-establishment" by Lieutenant Colonel Tigri, but the regular army quickly intervened to regain control of the station and restore order. The French embassy in Benin urged its citizens to stay home after reports of gunfire near the Guezou camp, confirming that the capital Cotonou and the country are safe. It is worth noting that President Patrice Talon has been in power since 2016 and will end his second term next year, the maximum allowed according to the constitution. Despite economic achievements, his opponents accuse him of following an authoritarian style, in a country that once knew a moving democracy, and Benin has historically witnessed several coups and coup attempts.
