Soldiers appear on TV announcing coup in African country Benin
What's the story
A group of soldiers has reportedly staged a coup in Benin, West Africa, announcing the dissolution of the government on state television. The group, which calls itself the Military Committee for Refoundation, has announced the removal of President Patrice Talon and all state institutions. Lt Col Pascal Tigri has been appointed as president of this military committee. The coup announcement came amid gunfire around the presidential residence and a subsequent blackout on state television and public radio.
Political context
Benin's political history and recent developments
Benin, which gained independence from France in 1960, has a history of military coups, especially in the early years after independence. However, since 1991, Benin has been politically stable, following the two-decade rule of Mathieu Kerekou, a Marxist-Leninist who renamed the country the People's Republic of Benin. President Talon came to power in 2016 and was due to step down next April after a presidential election.
Coup details
Recent political changes and coup announcement
Recently, Talon's party had picked former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni as its presidential candidate. Opposition candidate Renaud Agbodjo was rejected by the electoral commission for lack of sponsors. In January, two Talon associates were sentenced to 20 years in prison for an alleged 2024 coup attempt. Last month, Benin's legislature extended the presidential term from five to seven years while keeping a two-term limit.
Coup
Coup is latest in string of military takeovers
The coup is the latest in a series of military takeovers that have wracked West Africa. Last month, a military coup deposed Guinea-Bissau's former President Umaro Embalo following a contentious election in which both he and the opposition candidate claimed to have won. In 2023, military leader Brice Oligui Nguema deposed Gabon's then-President Ali Bongo Ondimba, whose family had been in power in the country for nearly 56 years.