Soldiers announce coup in Benin, president Talon ousted

Soldiers in Benin said that they had removed President Patrice Talon from power, declaring a military takeover during a brief address broadcast on national television.

In the televised statement, the soldiers announced the suspension of the constitution, the closure of all land borders and the immediate shutdown of the country’s airspace.

They said a Military Transition Council, to be led by Lieutenant-Colonel Tigri Pascal, would henceforth assume control of the state.

The group justified the coup by accusing President Talon of what they described as “poor management of the country,” though no specific allegations were provided.

Reports of gunfire were heard earlier near the president’s residence in Cotonou, according to a message circulated by the French Embassy, which urged French citizens in Benin to remain indoors for their safety.

Talon, 67, was expected to leave office next year after completing his second and final term, with presidential elections scheduled for April.

The businessman-turned-politician, popularly nicknamed the “king of cotton” due to his expansive business empire, first won office in 2016. He had repeatedly stated that he would not seek a third term and had already endorsed a successor ahead of the polls.

There has been no immediate information on the whereabouts of the president, and international reactions are beginning to emerge as regional bodies monitor the fast-developing situation.