Soldiers on national TV claim to seize power in Benin, suspend constitution

A group of soldiers on Benin's national television claimed to have seized power in the West African nation on Sunday, the latest threat to democratic norms in the unstable region.

The group, which called itself the Military Committee for Refoundation, announced the removal of the president and all state institutions. Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri has been appointed president of the military committee, the soldiers said.

"The army solemnly commits to give the Beninese people the hope of a truly new era, where fraternity, justice and work prevail," said a statement read by one of the soldiers who was flanked by half a dozen others, several wearing helmets.

"The constitution is suspended. All institutions are dissolved (and) political party activities suspended until further notice."
A government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"Everything is fine," Wilfried Houngbedji, the spokesperson for the Benin Government, told The Associated Press without expanding.

There is no official news about President Patrice Talon since gunshots were heard around the presidential residence.

The signal to state television and public radio was cut off after the military announcement. Talon had been in power since 2016 and was due to step down next April after the presidential election.

Traffic moves along an empty road following reports of a coup attempt underway against the government of Benin's President Patrice Talon, in Cotonou. Reuters

Talon's party pick, former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, was the favorite to win the election. Opposition candidate Renaud Agbodjo was rejected by the electoral commission on the grounds that he did not have sufficient sponsors.

In January, two associates of Talon were sentenced to 20 years in prison for an alleged 2024 coup plot. Last month, the country's legislature extended the presidential term of office from five to seven years, keeping the term limit at two. The coup is the latest in a string of military takeovers that have rocked West Africa.

Last month, a military coup in Guinea-Bissau removed former President Umaro Embalo after a contested election in which both he and the opposition candidate declared themselves winners.

The announcement came as Benin was preparing for a presidential election in April that would mark the end of the tenure of incumbent Patrice Talon, in power since 2016.

Benin’s ruling coalition had nominated Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni to be its candidate, positioning a man seen as a key architect of its economic policies to pursue the administration’s current reform agenda if elected.

Talon's decision to step down after two terms was a rare move in the West and Central Africa region where democratic norms are increasingly under pressure.

A coup last month in Guinea-Bissau was the ninth in the region since 2020. 

Reuters / AP