Michael Ehindero's Blog

The government of Benin announced on Sunday that it had successfully foiled an attempted coup allegedly orchestrated by members of the country’s armed forces. In a televised address, Interior Minister Alassane Seidou said the military leadership “remained committed to the republic,” reaffirming its loyalty despite the actions of a small group of soldiers. Earlier in the day, a faction of soldiers appeared on state television claiming to have overthrown President Patrice Talon . Eyewitnesses told the BBC they heard gunfire in parts of Cotonou, and reports emerged that some state media staff had been held hostage during the broadcast. A presidential adviser told the BBC that President Talon was in a secure location. French diplomats also dismissed circulating reports that he had sought refuge at the French embassy in Cotonou, the country’s administrative capital.

A group of soldiers on Sunday announced the dissolution of Benin’s government during a televised broadcast on the state-owned channel. Identifying themselves as the Military Committee for Refoundation, the officers declared that President Patrice Talon and all political officeholders had been removed from power, adding that all state institutions now stand dissolved. Talon, who has led the country since 2016, had previously stated that he would leave office in April 2026 after the next presidential election. His administration has faced increasing tension in recent months. In September 2024, Djimon Tevoedjre, commander of the Republican Guard and head of the president’s security detail, was arrested following an attempted coup. Benin now becomes the latest West African nation to fall under military control. The announcement follows a similar development in Guinea-Bissau last month, where military officers seized power after President Umaro Embaló and his main challenger,...