COTONOU. Heavy gunfire erupted on Sunday morning near the residence of Benin’s President Patrice Talon as rogue soldiers attempted to storm the area .
However , the disgruntled soldiers were pushed back by loyal forces, diplomatic and security sources said
The French Embassy in Cotonou issued an urgent alert to its nationals, warning that shots had been reported at Camp Guezo, close to Talon’s home.
It urged residents to “remain at home until further notice” while authorities worked to clarify the situation.
Shortly after the clashes, soldiers took control of the headquarters of the national broadcaster, ORTB, and began airing a pre-recorded message on repeat.
In the statement, officers identifying themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR) announced that they had suspended the constitution, dissolved state institutions and closed all land, air and sea borders “until security is fully restored.”
This publication could not independently confirm the whereabouts of President Talon, who has ruled Benin since 2016 and was seen by many Western partners as a key regional ally despite criticism at home over restrictions on political competition.
Benin, once cited as a model of multi-party democracy, has been largely insulated from the spate of coups that have swept West Africa in recent years.
The apparent mutiny will heighten concerns among foreign governments, particularly France and the United States, which have supported Benin’s security operations against jihadist incursions along its northern frontier.
Loyalist forces were “regrouping” around key installations, raising the prospect of further clashes in the capital if the CMR fails to consolidate control.
ECOWAS, which has condemned recent putsches in Niger, Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso, had not immediately commented.
Residents reported tense calm in parts of Cotonou on Sunday afternoon, with commercial activity slowing and major roads partially blocked by security forces.