Authorities in Benin have confirmed that an attempted military takeover on Sunday, December 7, has been quashed, with President Patrice Talon safe and loyalist forces restoring order across the country.
Televised Announcement and Swift Rebuttal
In the early hours of Sunday, a group of soldiers identifying as the "Military Committee for Refoundation" appeared on national television. They declared that President Patrice Talon had been removed from office. However, the broadcast signal was cut shortly after the announcement.
Contradicting the televised statement, a source close to the president informed the AFP news agency that Talon was secure. The source characterized the event as the action of a "small group of people who only control the television." They assured that the regular army was regaining control and that the economic capital, Cotonou, and the nation were "completely secure."
Loyal Forces Regain Control
A military source corroborated that the situation was "under control" and emphasized that the suspected coup plotters had failed to seize key government locations. Neither the president's residence nor the presidential offices were taken over.
The French Embassy in Benin reported gunfire near Camp Guezo, which is close to the president's official residence in Cotonou. The embassy advised French citizens to stay indoors as a precautionary safety measure.
Regional Context and Talon's Legacy
This incident occurs against a backdrop of political instability in West Africa, which has seen a series of military coups in recent years. Benin's northern neighbors, Niger and Burkina Faso, as well as Mali, Guinea, and Guinea Bissau, have all experienced military takeovers.
President Patrice Talon, a 67-year-old former businessman often referred to as the "cotton king of Cotonou," first came to power in 2016. He is currently serving his second and final term, which is constitutionally mandated to end in 2026. His tenure has been marked by:
- Steady economic growth.
- A rise in jihadist violence in some regions.
- Criticism from opponents who accuse him of authoritarian tendencies.
Notably, the main opposition party has been excluded from the upcoming contest to succeed him, leaving the ruling party to face a more moderate opposition.
While Benin has a history of coups, it has enjoyed relative political stability in recent decades. The swift containment of this attempt underscores the current administration's control over the military apparatus. As one source stated, "It's just a matter of time before everything returns to normal. The clean up is progressing well."
