On Sunday, a group of military personnel in Benin declared that they had removed President Patrice Talon from office. The soldiers, identifying themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR), announced on state television their decision to depose the president. However, shortly after this announcement, officials close to Talon stated that he was safe and that the regular army was regaining control of the situation.
The president’s supporters emphasized that the military faction involved in the announcement only controlled the state television station, while the city of Cotonou and the rest of the country remained secure. A military source also confirmed that the coup plotters had not captured Talon’s residence or the presidential offices, adding that the situation was “under control.”
Earlier, reports of gunfire near Camp Guezo, located close to the president’s official residence in the economic capital, led the French Embassy to advise French nationals to stay indoors for their safety.
Patrice Talon, a 67-year-old former businessman known as the “cotton king of Cotonou,” has been president since 2016 and is expected to hand over power in April next year after completing two terms, the constitutional limit. His time in office has been marked by notable economic growth but also increasing jihadist violence.
Benin’s political landscape has a history of coups and attempted coups. The recent events come amid a wider pattern of military takeovers in West Africa, including in neighboring countries Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau.
Talon’s ruling party faces a restricted opposition ahead of the upcoming elections, with the main opposition party excluded from the race. While Talon has been credited with driving economic development, critics frequently accuse his administration of authoritarian tendencies.
The situation remains fluid, with the army working to restore full order.
