Loyalists of Beninese President Patrice Talon claimed his government is ‘regaining control’ despite an announcement by a section of the military that they had staged a successful coup to oust him on Sunday.
Talon’s whereabouts remain unclear but officials making up his entourage claimed a ”bunch of the coupists who control the television” are being dealt with.
”The regular army is regaining control. The city and the country are completely secure,” the AFP quoted Talon’s office as saying with reports emerging to suggest that the government has ”successfully repelled an attack on the presidential palace, despite soldiers on national television announcing measures closing the land, sea, and air borders of Benin”.
Reuters also quoted Beninese official, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari as saying that Talon still enjoys the backing of a larger section of the army and presidential guard who have apparently ”thwarted the coup and put the situation under control”.
Meanwhile, the coupists have named Pascal Tigri as the head of the Military Committee for Refoundation (CMR) and the country’s new leader.
According to the statement, the constitution has been suspended and the country’s borders – sea, land and airspace – have been closed until further notice.
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 apparent military takeover 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.
Countries in West Africa under military rule include Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger.
WN/as/APA