Benin on alert: Military group goes live on state TV, claims to remove President Talon

A group of soldiers appeared on Benin's state TV on Sunday, announcing the dissolution of the government in an apparent coup. Soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri took over the national television station and declared that President Patrice Talon has been “removed from office”.

Hours later, Benin's Interior Minister Alassane Seidou announced in a video shared online that the coup was foiled. The soldiers in question "launched a mutiny with the aim of destabilising the state and its institutions," Seidou said, adding that the military remained "committed to the republic."

President Talon has been in power since 2016 and was due to step down next April after the presidential election.

The coup attempt – latest in a string of military takeovers that have rocked West Africa – allegedly began in the early hours of Sunday, sources said, with an attack on President Patrice Talon’s residence in the capital Porto-Novo, mentioned a report by FRANCE 24.

Which group announced the dissolution?

According to a report by AP, the group – which called itself the Military Committee for Refoundation – on Sunday announced the removal of President Talon and all state institutions.

The video of the soldiers announcing the removal of President Talon was widely circulated on social media

The coup began with an attack on President Patrice Talon’s residence in the capital Porto-Novo, after which they took over the state TV and announced the dissolution of the government.

Where is Benin located?

Benin is a West African country located along the southern coast of the continent, bordering the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean. It is situated between Togo to the west and Nigeria to the east, while Burkina Faso and Niger lie to its north.

Its official capital is Porto-Novo, but Cotonou, located on the coast, serves as the economic hub, largest city, and de facto seat of government.

Benin was formerly known as Dahomey during French colonial rule and gained independence in 1960, adopting the name Republic of Benin in 1975.

Following its independence from France in 1960, the West African nation witnessed multiple coups, especially in the decades following its independence. Since 1991, the country has been politically stable following the two-decade rule of Marxist-Leninist Mathieu Kérékou.