Benin's President Patrice Talon said on Sunday the situation was "totally under control". (AP)

Benin President Patrice Talon said on Sunday that the government and armed forces had thwarted a coup attempt by a group of soldiers in the West African nation, vowing to punish those who carried it out.

Talon’s announcement on Sunday evening came about 12 hours after gunfire first rang out in several neighbourhoods of Cotonou, the biggest city, and soldiers went on state television to claim they had removed Talon from power.

The rapid mobilisation of forces loyal to the government “allowed us to thwart these adventurers,” Talon said in his remarks aired on state television.

“This treachery will not go unpunished. “The attempted coup was the latest threat to democratic rule in the region, whe

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