A group of soldiers appeared on Benin state television on Sunday to announce the dissolution of the government in what was described as an apparent coup, marking another power grab in West Africa.
Identifying themselves as the Military Committee for the Refoundation, the military declared the dismissal of the president and all state institutions.
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President Patrice Talon, in office since 2016, was scheduled to leave office next April following the presidential elections. His party’s preferred candidate, former finance minister Romuald Wadagni, was widely considered the favourite. The opposition candidate, Renaud Agbodjo, was disqualified by the electoral commission for not having “sufficient sponsors.”
The inauguration comes a month after Benin’s legislature extended the presidential term from five to seven years, while maintaining the two-term limit.
(AFP)
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