President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Sunday’s attempt to seize military power in Benin Republic failed.
Onanuga, in a post on
He added that security forces, led by the National Guard, regained control and surrounded the station, while talks continued with the mutineers, who were hiding inside.
He said: “The coup in Benin fails. The mutineers in military uniform, who attempted to overthrow the democratic government of President Patrice Talon on Sunday in Benin Republic, have failed. The mutineers seized the National Television after failing to enter President Talon’s residence.
“The latest report from Cotonou says that the National Guard has taken control of the situation and has surrounded the television station. According to 24 Hours of Benin, talks are taking place with the mutineers, now hiding inside the station.”
Online tribune reports that the coup attempt came after 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 d’état, 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.
President Patrice Talon, in office since 2016, is scheduled to leave office next April, following the presidential elections. His party’s preferred candidate, former finance minister Romuald Wadagni, has been widely considered the favourite, while opposition candidate Renaud Agbodjo was disqualified by the electoral commission for lacking sufficient sponsors.
The attempted power grab comes a month after Benin’s legislature extended the presidential term from five to seven years, while maintaining the two-term limit.
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