Attempted coup in Benin foiled, all its foci mopped up — President
An attempted coup has been foiled in Benin, the country’s President Patrice Talon said in his address to the nation broadcast on national television.
“A small group of military personnel rebelled, and it was suppressed by our army. All foci of the coup have been mopped up. The act of treason [by the rebels] will not go unpunished,” the head of state said.
Talon stressed that the authorities have complete control of the situation throughout the country. “The situation is completely under control. Security and public order will be ensured everywhere,” Talon said adding that citizens can safely go about their daily affairs.
Early Sunday morning, a group of soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri seized the Benin Broadcasting Corporation building in the country’s largest city, Cotonou. Tigri went live from the studio and announced that the military reorganization committee had assumed full power in the country and that President Talon had been removed from power.
Simultaneously with the seizure of the television station building, the rebels attempted to seize the house where the head of state was staying, but this attempt was unsuccessful.
National Guard units loyal to the constitution seized the television station building, where the putschists’ headquarters was located. Fourteen people were arrested, and some of the rebels, including Tigri, fled. They are being searched.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has decided to deploy elements of its Standby Force to Benin following a foiled state coup, Reuters reported.
The regional bloc did not say however which countries will participate in the mission.Benin’s government said earlier that its troops had thwarted an attempted state coup by the military.
ECOWAS is an association of 12 West African nations, established a Standby Force (ESF) in 1990. Headquartered in Nigeria’s Abuja, the force has no permanent contingent and is formed from national units, depending on the situation, and may number up to 6,500 troops.
