Benin coup attempt: President Talon addresses nation, says situation 'completely under control'

Benin's president said on Sunday that the "situation is completely under control" in his country after the government thwarted an attempted coup thanks to loyalist soldiers.

A group of soldiers announced earlier in the day on state television that they had ousted President Patrice Talon.

That sparked a swift response from loyal army forces, air strikes from neighbouring Nigeria and the deployment of troops from other countries in the region.

Beninese military and security sources said that around a dozen soldiers had been arrested, including those behind the coup bid.

President Talon addresses nation

West Africa has experienced a number of coups in recent years, including in Benin's northern neighbours Niger and Burkina Faso, as well as Mali, Guinea and, most recently, Guinea-Bissau.

"I would like to assure you that the situation is completely under control and therefore invite you to calmly go about your activities starting this very evening," Talon said on state broadcaster Benin TV.

Talon is due to hand over power in April next year after 10 years in office marked by solid economic growth, but faces the challenge of insecurity in the country's north.

Early Sunday, soldiers calling themselves the "Military Committee for Refoundation" (CMR), announced on state television that they had met and decided that "Mr Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic."

Army controls situation

Shortly after the announcement however, a source close to Talon told AFP the president was safe, condemning the coup plotters as "a small group of people who only control the television."

"The regular army is regaining control. The city (Cotonou) and the country are completely secure," the source added.

"It's just a matter of time before everything returns to normal. The clean-up is progressing well."

Benin's Interior Minister Alassane Seidou said that "the Beninese Armed Forces and their leadership maintained control of the situation and foiled the attempt."

Regional forces activated

The Nigerian air force struck undisclosed targets on Sunday as Beninese forces conducted countercoup operations, a source in the Nigerian presidency told AFP.

West African regional bloc ECOWAS meanwhile said troops from Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria and Sierra Leone were being deployed to the country to "support the Government and the Republican Army of Benin to preserve constitutional order."