Coup Attempt in Benin Fails as Government Retakes Control

By Spear News

A military coup attempt against the democratic government of President Patrice Talon was decisively thwarted on Sunday, with loyalist forces retaking full control of the capital by nightfall.

Spear News reports that the crisis began when mutineers in military uniforms launched an early hours operation to overthrow the government.

Their initial assault on the presidential residence in Cotonou was repelled. Failing to capture the seat of power, the rebel faction then seized the state-run Office de Radiodiffusion et Télévision du Bénin (ORTB), taking control of the national broadcast signal.

The situation escalated rapidly, but the government’s response was swift. Units of the National Guard and loyal armed forces mobilized, surrounding the television station and isolating the mutineers. By late Sunday, security forces had secured key government installations and were in firm command of the city.

“The situation is under control. The National Guard has everything surrounded,” a senior security official stated on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the operation.

According to local media reports, including 24 Hours In Benin, the mutineers remained barricaded inside the television station as of Sunday evening. Authorities confirmed that negotiations were underway to secure their peaceful surrender.

President Patrice Talon, who was reportedly secure at an undisclosed location, has not yet made a public statement.

There were no immediate reports of widespread violence or casualties in the streets of Cotonou, which were described as tense but calm following the initial alarms.

The attempted overthrow sent shockwaves through the West African region, which has witnessed several successful coups in neighbouring nations over the past three years.

Benin, hailed as a stable democracy and an economic hub, has largely been an exception to this trend.

International observers and regional bodies are closely monitoring the situation. The attempted coup is likely to prompt a swift response from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has taken a firm stance against unconstitutional changes of government.

The government is expected to issue a formal statement and provide further details on the incident and the identity of the mutineers in the coming hours.