Benin is reeling after an attempted military coup on Sunday, which saw soldiers briefly seize control of state TV and reportedly take senior officials hostage. Two hostages have since been freed, though details of their release remain unclear.
The government, backed by regional powers including Nigeria, is conducting a manhunt for the coup plotters, who remain at large. Explosions heard in Cotonou, Benin’s largest city, are believed to have resulted from air strikes targeting rebel positions.
President Patrice Talon addressed the nation, saying loyalist forces had “cleared the last pockets of resistance” and reassuring citizens that the situation is now under control. He condemned the mutiny as a “direct assault on democracy” and promised accountability for those involved.
The rebel soldiers, led by Lt Col Pascal Tigri, cited grievances including deteriorating security along the northern border, neglect of soldiers and their families, cuts to healthcare, and political restrictions.
Benin, historically one of West Africa’s more stable democracies, faces rising regional instability, with recent coups in Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. ECOWAS and the African Union have condemned the attempt, deploying troops from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast to secure key sites and prevent further unrest.
The country prepares for elections next April, as Talon, a two-term president, plans to step down, having endorsed Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni as his successor. The coup attempt underscores ongoing tensions and security challenges in West Africa, particularly amid threats from insurgent groups near Benin’s northern borders.
