Benin’s President Patrice Talon on Sunday evening said that the situation in the country is totally under control after thwarting a failed coup attempt by a group of soldiers who wanted to destabilise the state.
ECOWAS has ordered the deployment of troops from Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Sierra Leone to support the Benin forces and restore order after members of its own troops went against the government. In his state televised address on Monday, President Patrice said, “I would like to assure my fellow countrymen that the situation which deteriorated due to some greedy men in uniform is now under control.”
He urged the fellow citizens to go back to their routine work without any fear, while assuring action against the soldiers, saying, “Treachery of rogue men in uniform attempting to oust him will not go unpunished.” The government sources on Sunday confirmed that more than 14 arrests have been made in connection with the alleged failed military coup attempt.
The group of soldiers on Sunday appeared on state Television announcing that President Patrice Talon had been “removed from office as president of the republic.” They added that all state-backed institutions have been dissolved and that Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri had been appointed president of the country.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), of which Benin is a member, described the coup attempt as “unconstitutional” and a “subversion of the will of the Beninese people”. Nigeria provided critical support, deploying fighter jets to secure Benin’s airspace and help dislodge the mutineers from the TV station and a military camp.
Meanwhile, the African Union said it “unequivocally condemns” the actions of the soldiers and urged them to return to their barracks. It will be interesting to see how the situation in the African republic evolves in the coming days.
