Military Officers Announce Coup in Benin Republic, Dissolve Government

Benin Republic was thrown into uncertainty on Sunday after a group of soldiers appeared on state television to announce that they had overthrown President Patrice Talon and dissolved all government institutions.

The soldiers, identifying themselves as the Military Committee for Refoundation (CMR), declared that they had taken control of the country, citing the need to “refound the nation” and restore order. The televised announcement came shortly after heavy gunfire was reported near the presidential residence in Cotonou.

According to eyewitnesses, armed units breached the perimeter of the president’s home in what security sources described as a coordinated assault. As of press time, the whereabouts of President Talon remain unknown, and neither the presidency nor the army’s high command has issued an official response.

The self-declared junta named Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri as the head of the transitional authority. In their broadcast, the officers announced the suspension of the constitution, dissolution of parliament, and closure of national borders until further notice.

The attempted takeover follows months of political tension. In recent years, Benin—once regarded as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies—has faced rising discontent, including a foiled coup plot in 2024 and subsequent arrests of high-profile political and military figures. President Talon, who previously announced he would not seek a third term in 2026, had been under growing pressure from both domestic critics and former allies.

Regional bodies and international observers are closely monitoring the situation. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), already stretched by a series of coups across the Sahel, is expected to issue a formal statement later today.

As events unfold, residents in Cotonou report a heightened military presence across key installations, including roadblocks and patrols near government buildings. Many citizens remain indoors amid uncertainty about what comes next.

This is a developing story.

Comments

937 People Killed In Attacks In Kaduna In 2020

At least 937 people died in violent attacks and mass atrocities in Kaduna State last year, an annual security report by the state government has shown. The report released Wednesday attributed the deaths to kidnappings, banditry and other criminal activities that cut “across all ethnic and religious groups” in Kaduna State. “Victims of criminal acts like banditry and kidnapping are to be found across ethnic, religious or political leanings and persuasions,’’ Samuel Aruwan, the state’s commissioner for internal security and home affairs, said while presenting the report. In his presentation, Mr Aruwan said that of the 937 killed, Igabi Local Government Area recorded the highest number of casualties (152), followed by Kajuru Local Government Area with 144 casualties. He added that Birnin Gwari, Igabi, Giwa and Chikun local governments in Kaduna central accounted for about 50 per cent (or 468 deaths) of the entire fatalities in the state. Meanwhile, 286 died in Kaduna South from the viole...

$114.28m COVID-19 loan: SERAP asks World Bank to make Nigeria ‘publicly commit to transparency’

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) has sent an open letter to the World Bank President Mr David Malpass, urging him to use his “good offices to encourage the Federal Government and 36 state governments to publicly commit to transparency and accountability in the spending of the $114.28m credit and grant for COVID-19, which the Bank’s Board of Directors recently approved for Nigeria, including by publishing details on a dedicated websit". SERAP also urged Mr Malpass to “put pressure on authorities and the 36 state governors to accept voluntary scrutiny by Nigerians and civil society regarding the spending of the funds and use of the resources, including on how they will spend the money to buy medical equipment, and improve access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene" The World Bank Board of Directors last Friday approved a $114.28 financing “to help Nigeria prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 with a specific focus on state level...

Amazon To Open African Headquarters In South Africa

Amazon has concluded plans to open its African headquarters in South Africa with a real estate investment of over R4 billion. Authorities in Cape Town said Amazon would be occupying a new development in River Club, a prime section of the city, local media reported. The 15-hectare parcel of land will cost R4 billion and include two precincts. Authorities said the first precinct of 60,000sqm would occupy different layers of development, while the second section of 70,000 will hold Amazon headquarters in Africa. "US retail giant, Amazon, will be the anchor tenant, opening a base of operations on the African continent," Cape Town city officials said in a statement. "The development is envisaged to take place in phases, with construction set to take place over three to five years." Over 5,000 direct construction jobs and 19,000 indirect jobs are expected to be created due to the move, Business Tech reported. Amazon has had its web engineering giant AWS in South Africa fo...

ExtMedia

Search This Blog