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Benin President Patrice Talon assures citizens the attempted coup is “fully under control.”
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Mutinous soldiers earlier claimed to have toppled Talon, triggering regional tension.
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Explosions and airstrike reports heighten fears amid rising West African coup attempts.
Benin Republic President Patrice Talon has addressed the nation for the first time after Sunday’s attempted coup, insisting that loyalist forces have restored full control of the situation.
Speaking in a nationwide broadcast, Talon described the plot as the action of “a small group of soldiers”, assuring citizens that stability had been re-established and urging them to remain calm.
READ ALSO: Attempted Coup in Benin Republic as Soldiers Announce President Talon’s Removal
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Hours earlier, a faction of soldiers seized the national television station and declared that Talon had been removed from power. Their announcement immediately triggered anxiety across the country and heightened regional alert levels, prompting neighbouring Nigeria to deploy military aircraft in response.
By late afternoon, loud explosions were reported in parts of Cotonou, with security sources suggesting the blasts were the result of an airstrike aimed at dispersing the mutineers.
Sunday’s events come amid a troubling resurgence of coups and attempted power grabs across West Africa, deepening concerns about political instability in the region.
Authorities in Benin are expected to provide further updates as security operations continue to track and apprehend the remaining plotters.
