Benin's president has appeared on television to reassure citizens of the West African nation that the situation was now totally under control following an attempted coup earlier in the day.
I would like to commend the sense of duty demonstrated by our army and its leaders, who have remained loyal to the nation, Patrice Talon said, looking calm during the live evening broadcast.
The government said it had thwarted the mutiny hours after a group of soldiers declared a takeover on national television. Later in the afternoon, huge explosions were heard in Cotonou, Benin's largest city and seat of government. They were thought to have been the result of an air strike.
Prior to the explosions, flight-tracking data showed that three aircraft had entered Benin's airspace from neighbouring Nigeria before returning home. A spokesman for Nigeria's president later confirmed that its fighter jets had gone in to take over the airspace to help dislodge the coup plotters from the national TV and a military camp where they had regrouped.
There have been a series of coups in West Africa before Sunday's thwarted attempt in Benin, raising fears about the region's security. Benin, a former French colony, has been regarded as one of Africa's more stable democracies. However, Talon has faced accusations of suppressing criticism of his policies.
The nation is one of the continent's largest cotton producers, but ranks among the world's poorest countries. Nigeria described the coup attempt as a direct assault on democracy.
The president stated in his address that loyalist forces had cleared the last pockets of resistance held by the mutineers. He expressed condolences to the victims of what he called a senseless adventure and confirmed that 14 people had been arrested in connection with the attempted coup.
Eyewitnesses reported gunfire near the presidential residence early on Sunday morning. The rebel soldiers justified their actions by criticizing Talon's management, particularly regarding the security situation and policies affecting military personnel and health care.
The incident in Benin occurred shortly after the overthrow of Guinea-Bissau's president, sparking concerns for the already fragile political climate in West Africa. Emphasizing regional stability, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sent a contingent to preserve constitutional order in Benin.
