Military tension gripped Benin on Sunday after a group of soldiers claimed they had removed President Patrice Talon from office.
The faction, identifying itself as the Military Committee for Refoundation, appeared on state television to declare that Talon had been deposed.
Their announcement came amid a wave of recent coups across West and Central Africa, raising fresh concerns about instability in the region.
Shortly after the broadcast, the French Embassy reported gunfire near Camp Guezo in Cotonou, close to the president’s residence, and advised its citizens to stay indoors.
However, Talon’s office quickly dismissed the soldiers’ claims, insisting the president was safe and that loyal forces were restoring order.
Officials described the group behind the announcement as a “small element” that briefly seized the national broadcaster without controlling any strategic locations.
Talon, who has led Benin since 2016 and is due to complete his second and final term in 2026, has been praised for economic reforms but criticised by opponents for tightening political space.
His government said the situation in the capital had stabilised and assured citizens that national security agencies were firmly in control.
