Ofure Akhigbe
Benin’s Interior Minister, Alassane Seidou, on Sunday said the country’s armed forces have foiled an attempted coup by a group of soldiers who had claimed they ousted President Patrice Talon.
“A small group of soldiers launched a mutiny with the aim of destabilising the country and its institutions,” Seidou said in a statement. “Faced with this situation, the Beninese Armed Forces and their leadership maintained control of the situation and foiled the attempt.”
Earlier on Sunday, the soldiers, who called themselves the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR), appeared on state television to announce that they had removed Talon from office.
However, Talon’s entourage immediately dismissed the claim, saying the president was safe and that loyal forces were regaining control.
“This is a small group of people who only control the television. The regular army is regaining control. The city and the country are completely secure,” his office told AFP.
Talon, who has been president of the West African nation for 10 years, is due to step down from office in April.