Benin Republic: Colonel Pascal Tigri Sacks President Patrice Talon
The group of soldiers calling itself the Military Committee for Refoundation has announced the removal of President Patrice Talon [Screengrab/Al Jazeera]
By Reporter
Earlier this morning, Benin Republic was thrown into uncertainty after a group of soldiers appeared on state television to announce the dissolution of the government and claimed that President Patrice Talon had been “removed from office” in what appears to be an unfolding military coup.
The soldiers, identified themselves as members of the Military Committee for Refoundation and declared that all state institutions had been suspended and that they were assuming control of the West African nation “to restore order.”
State television showed footages of heavily armed, uniformed men reading from a prepared statement. The officers accused the civilian authorities of mismanaging the country and insisted the military had stepped in as a corrective force.
Earlier, there were reported attack on President Talon’s residence in Porto-Novo, Benin’s capital, in the early hours of Sunday.
The operation Midwest Herald gathered was led by one Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, who is said to have mobilised loyal troops to attack the presidential compound before moving on to seize the national broadcaster’s facilities.
In their statement, the ‘Military Committee for Refoundation’ announced the “removal of the president and all state institutions”, suggesting that the National Assembly, Constitutional Court, and other organs of state power had been suspended.
The officers promised to unveil further measures “in the coming hours,” including what they described as arrangements for maintaining security, governing the country, and dealing with existing international commitments.
They also urged the population to remain calm and to avoid gathering that will disrupt peace.
If the coup succeeds, it would add to the growing numbers of countries that is presently under military rule.
Until now, Benin had largely been viewed as relatively stable, even as critics accused President Talon’s administration of tightening its grip on political life and squeezing the opposition.
However, Benin’s Interior Minister Alassane Seidou says the country’s armed forces have thwarted “an attempted coup.”
His statement came after the soldiers appeared on state television and announced the removal of President Patrice Talon, the closure of borders and suspension of political parties.
