Benin’s President Patrice Talon has claimed that the situation is “completely under control” in the Western African nation after the government thwarted an attempted coup on Sunday.

Calm returned on Monday to Cotonou, Benin’s administrative centre, after sporadic gunshots were heard across the city throughout Sunday, but a heavy presence of soldiers remained on the streets.

Early on Sunday, soldiers calling themselves the Military Committee for Refoundation declared on state television they had toppled Talon, who has been in power since 2016, prompting a swift response from loyal army forces, joined by air attacks and troop deployments from neighbouring Nigeria.

Talon first took office in 2016 and was re-elected in 2021.

Several West African nations have faced coups in recent years,

See Full Page