There is tension in Porto Novo, the capital of Benin Republic as a group of soldiers which claim to have overthrown President Patrice Talon are attempting to consolidate, even as troops loyal to the government are reportedly trying to quell the coup.
In the early hours of Sunday, soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri announced a military take over on national television, after an attack on Talon’s residence.
The coupists announced themselves as the Military Committee for Refoundation with the French acronym CM
AIT has spoken to a source who said the president is in a safe location having escaped.
Beninʼs foreign minister, Shegun Adjadi Bakari, told Reuters that “there is a coup attempt but the situation is under control”, and that “a large part of the army the national guard are still loyal to the president and are controlling the situation.
Romuald Wadagni, the Beninese Minister of Finance also added that the situation was under control.
“The mutineers are holed up …We are clearing them out, but it’s not over yet. We are safe”, he said.
The Subregional bloc, ECOWAS is yet to ccomment on the coup in Benin which comes barely two weeks after the military took power in Guinea-Bissau just a day to the announcement of results of a credible election.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
