Beninese gov’t regains control as coup foiled

Loyalists of President Patrice Talon say they have regained control of Benin, hours after mutinous soldiers announced they had staged a successful coup on Sunday.

The coupists named Pascal Tigri as the head of the Military Committee for Refoundation (CMR) and the country’s new leader.

However, Interior Minister Alassane Seidou said Benin’s armed forces have thwarted the coup and Patrice Talon whose whereabouts were unknown remains safe and still the country’s president.

Talon’s entourage claimed loyal troops in the military and presidential guard ”successfully repelled an attack on the presidential palace”.

“A small group of soldiers launched a mutiny with the aim of destabilising the country and its institutions” Seidou said, adding that the Beninese military had acted swiftly to neutralise the situation.

Earlier on Sunday soldiers had appeared on state television to announce that President Talon has been deposed and that the country’s constitution was suspended, land, sea and air closed and political party activities banned.

The West African regional grouping Ecowas had since issued a statement, condemning the abortive coup, vowed support for Mr Talon’s demoncratically elected government and possibly deploy an intervention force to help stabilise the post-coup situation in Benin.

Gunshots were heard near Talon’s residence in Contonou in the early hours of Sunday as rebel soldiers seized control of the main television station and proceeded to announce that the former businessman who successfully ran for president in 2016 has been deposed.

Although the 67-year-old had stated his wish not to run for a third term next year, and had since named a possible successor, his critics blamed his administration for Benin’s allegedly authoritarian style under him.

Finance and economy minister, Romuald Wadagni was chosen as the ruling party candidate for next year’s election while that of the main opposition was barred from taking part.

Those who masterminded the coup against him accused officials in his administration of taking ‘undue advantage of democracy to act with impunity”.

The abortive military takeove in Benin, comes barely a week after the army in Guinea-Bissau overthrew Umaro Sissoco Embaló following disputed elections, casting a spotlight on West Africa as a region blighted by coups in recent years.