Benin Republic president safe as coup attempt foiled —Interior Minister

Benin Republic’s Interior Minister, Alassane Seidou, has confirmed that an attempted coup by a group of soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, has been thwarted.

In a statement on Sunday, Seidou said the coup was foiled by forces loyal to President Patrice Talon who successfully dislodged the dissident soldiers who had attacked Talon’s residence and taken over the national television station.

The group, which called itself the Military Committee for Refoundation, had earlier on Sunday, announced the removal of the president and all state institutions.

While announcing the coup, Tigri said that the military had dismissed President Talon from his post while declaring himself president of a military committee for the country’s restructuring.

He also announced the suspension of the constitution which was enacted on November 2025, as well as dissolving all institutions dissolved.

Tigri also declared that activities of political parties are suspended until further notice while the land, maritime, and air borders of Benin are closed.

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But in a statement later on Sunday, Seidou said the coup has been aborted while President Talon was safe.

“A small group of soldiers launched a mutiny with the aim of destabilising the country and its institutions,” the Minister said.

“Faced with this situation, the Beninese Armed Forces and their leadership maintained control of the situation and foiled the attempt.

“Soldiers calling themselves the Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR), said on state television that they had met and decided that Mr Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic.

“This is a small group of people who only control the television. The regular army is regaining control. The city and the country are completely secure,” Seidou said while speaking to journalists.

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