At least 13 soldiers were detained this Sunday, December 7, in the city of Cotonou, Benin, after a failed coup attempt, according to Army sources.
“All those detained are military personnel, including one who had already been expelled from service,” a military source told AFP.
Among them are responsible for the operation, although Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, appointed as leader, and another member managed to escape.
The group had invaded the headquarters of Radio and Television of Benin (RTB) in the early hours of Sunday, announcing the dismissal of the president, Patrice Talon. A group of soldiers appeared this Sunday on Benin’s state television announcing the dissolution of the Government in an apparent coup d’état. The group, which called itself the Military Committee for Refoundation, announced the removal of the president and all state institutions.
The action was quickly neutralized by the Republican Guard, who regained control of the building and restored order.
The country’s government would later announce that it had aborted an attempted coup d’état, in a video published on the social network Facebook. “In the early hours of today [domingo]a small group of soldiers started a revolt with the aim of destabilizing the State and its institutions”, added the Minister of the Interior, Alassane Seidou. “Faced with this situation, the Armed Forces of Benin and its leadership, faithful to their oath, remained committed to the Republic”, he stressed.