Benin Coup Attempt Foiled; Leader at Large, Hostages’ Status Unknown

Lagos – A failed coup in Benin has left the nation on edge, as the apparent leader, Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, remains on the run and the status of hostages remains unclear.

Early Sunday, a group of eight soldiers calling themselves the Committee for Refoundation took over the national television station, announcing the removal of President Patrice Talon and the suspension of government institutions.

The coup was swiftly suppressed by Benin’s military, aided by Nigerian air and ground support. Several mutineers were arrested, but Tigri and others managed to escape. President Talon called the coup a “senseless adventure” and assured the public that security forces were protecting hostages, though he did not disclose casualties or numbers.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attempted takeover, while Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu commended Nigerian troops for defending constitutional order in Benin.

ECOWAS has mobilized a standby force, with personnel from Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Sierra Leone, to help maintain stability in the country.

Although sporadic gunfire was reported on Sunday, calm returned to Cotonou by Monday. Benin, which has experienced coups in the past, has maintained uninterrupted democratic rule for over 20 years.

The failed takeover follows a string of coups in West Africa since 2020, highlighting ongoing political instability in the region.