Benin's president has appeared on television to reassure citizens of the West African nation that the situation was now totally under control following an attempted coup earlier in the day. I would like to commend the sense of duty demonstrated by our army and its leaders, who have remained... loyal to the nation, Patrice Talon said, looking calm during the live evening broadcast.
The government said it had thwarted the mutiny hours after a group of soldiers declared a takeover on national television. Later in the afternoon, huge explosions were heard in Cotonou, Benin's largest city and seat of government, thought to have been the result of an air strike.
Prior to the explosions, flight-tracking data showed that three aircraft had entered Benin's airspace from neighbouring Nigeria before returning home. A spokesman for Nigeria's president later confirmed that its fighter jets had gone in to take over the airspace to help dislodge the coup plotters from the national TV and a military camp where they had regrouped.
The president stated that loyalist forces had cleared the last pockets of resistance held by the mutineers, marking a quick resolution to the crisis which had heightened fears of instability in a region already grappling with a series of recent coups. Following the address, reports indicated that 14 people had been arrested in connection with the attempted coup, including former military personnel who had stormed the offices of the national TV station.
This incident reflects the growing unease in West Africa, where stability has been challenged frequently in the past few years. President Talon, who is due to step down next year, conveyed that the nation would not forget the treachery of those attempting to undermine democracy, emphasizing the importance of a united front in the wake of such threats.
The government said it had thwarted the mutiny hours after a group of soldiers declared a takeover on national television. Later in the afternoon, huge explosions were heard in Cotonou, Benin's largest city and seat of government, thought to have been the result of an air strike.
Prior to the explosions, flight-tracking data showed that three aircraft had entered Benin's airspace from neighbouring Nigeria before returning home. A spokesman for Nigeria's president later confirmed that its fighter jets had gone in to take over the airspace to help dislodge the coup plotters from the national TV and a military camp where they had regrouped.
The president stated that loyalist forces had cleared the last pockets of resistance held by the mutineers, marking a quick resolution to the crisis which had heightened fears of instability in a region already grappling with a series of recent coups. Following the address, reports indicated that 14 people had been arrested in connection with the attempted coup, including former military personnel who had stormed the offices of the national TV station.
This incident reflects the growing unease in West Africa, where stability has been challenged frequently in the past few years. President Talon, who is due to step down next year, conveyed that the nation would not forget the treachery of those attempting to undermine democracy, emphasizing the importance of a united front in the wake of such threats.
