Benin’s security forces have detained about a dozen soldiers after an attempted coup, with sources confirming that the main organisers of the plot are among those in custody.
According to military and security officials who spoke with AFP on Sunday, 13 individuals have been arrested so far. All but one are active-duty soldiers, while the remaining suspect is a former member of the armed forces.
The arrests followed a dramatic broadcast on Benin’s national television earlier on Sunday, where a group of officers announced that President Patrice Talon had been removed from office and that all state institutions had been dissolved.
The officers, calling themselves the Military Committee for Refoundation, claimed they had taken control of the country.
However, the presidency quickly countered the declaration, assuring AFP that President Talon is unharmed and that loyal forces are firmly restoring order. Officials described the coup attempt as the action of “a small group” with no real hold on power.
“This is a small group that only managed to seize the television station. The national army is taking back control. Both the city and the country remain fully secure,” the presidency stated.
