The coup attempt allegedly began in the early hours of Sunday, sources said, with an attack on President Patrice Talon’s official residence in Benin’s capital Porto-Novo.
The French Embassy said on X that “gunfire was reported at Camp Guezo” near the president’s home, and urged French citizens to remain indoors for security.
Soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri then took over the national television station and declared that Talon had been “removed from office” and all state institutions.
The group is calling itself the Military Committee for Refoundation.
President Talon has been in power since 2016 and was due to step down next April after the presidential election.
Talon’s party pick, former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, was the favorite to win the election. Opposition candidate Renaud Agbodjo was rejected by the electoral commission on the grounds that he did not have sufficient sponsors.
Last month, the country’s legislature extended the presidential term of office from five to seven years, keeping the term limit at two.
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(FRANCE 24 with AP, AFP, Reuters)
