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Benin’s foreign minister says the government has regained control after an apparent military coup attempt.
A group of soldiers announced the dissolution of the country’s government on state TV on Sunday morning.
this was the latest A series of coup attempts in West Africa,
“There is an effort but the situation is under control,” Olushegun Adjadi Bakari said on Sunday.
“Now it is a small group of the army. A large part of the army is still loyal and we are handling the situation.”
He said that coup plotters had simply taken control of state TV and the signal was cut for several minutes.
The group, which called itself the Military Committee for Refoundation, announced that it had removed the president and all state institutions.
“The army is committed to giving the Beninese people true hope for a new era where brotherhood, justice and work will prevail,” a statement read by a soldier said.
He was accompanied by half a dozen other people, many of whom were wearing helmets.
“The Constitution has been suspended. All institutions have been dissolved (and) political party activities have been suspended until further notice.”
President Patrice Talon has been in power since 2016 and is due to step down next April after presidential elections.
Benin’s ruling coalition nominated Finance Minister Romuald Vadagni as its candidate, a man seen as the chief architect of its economic policies who, if elected, would carry forward the administration’s existing reform agenda.
Mr. Tallon’s decision to step down after two terms was a rare move in the West and Central Africa region, where democratic norms are under increasing pressure.
The November coup in Guinea-Bissau was the ninth coup in the region since 2020.