KEY POINTS
- Soldiers claimed to have seized power in Benin via a state TV broadcast.
- Gunfire reported near the presidential residence and other parts of Cotonou.
- Government and loyalist officers say they remain in control.
ISLAMABAD: Witnesses in Cotonou say gunfire echoed near the presidential residence and other neighbourhoods early Sunday, as a faction of soldiers claimed via state television to oust President Patrice Talon and dissolve the Benin Republic government.
The unfolding events have triggered widespread concern, while residents stay indoors and the capital remains on edge.
According to the announcement carried on the state broadcaster, the group — calling itself the Military Committee for Refoundation (CMR) — said they had removed Talon from office, dissolved all state institutions, suspended the constitution, and closed the country’s borders and airspace. Lieutenant‑Colonel Pascal Tigri was named head of the committee, Reuters reported.
Eyewitnesses told the media that shots rang out near the palace and around several districts of the city, prompting panic as residents scrambled for safety.
The French embassy in Benin reportedly issued a security alert after receiving reports of gunfire near the presidential residence, according to AP News.
Despite the announcement, government sources say they have regained control of key installations, including the national broadcaster and security-sensitive areas. The presidency says the situation is under control and President Talon is safe.
Benin, officially the Republic of Benin, is a small West African country bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso and Niger to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. Its capital is Porto-Novo, while Cotonou serves as its largest city and economic hub.
A former French colony, Benin transitioned to a multiparty democracy in the early 1990s and has been relatively stable compared with some regional neighbours, with Patrice Talon serving as president since 2016.
The attempted takeover comes months before the planned presidential elections in April 2026, which were expected to mark the end of Patrice Talon’s second term. The sudden upheaval has unsettled a country that had remained relatively stable in recent years, according to graphic.com.gh
At this stage, the situation remains fluid, and information is often contradictory. Journalists and analysts warn that the coming hours may determine whether this remains a brief unrest or a full-blown regime change.
