Around a dozen soldiers have been arrested in Benin following an attempted coup, including the alleged ringleaders, military and security sources told AFP on Sunday.
One source reported 13 arrests, noting that all detainees are active soldiers except one, a former member of the armed forces.
The arrests came after a broadcast on Benin’s national television on Sunday morning, in which a group of military officers announced the removal of President Patrice Talon and the dissolution of all state institutions.
The officers, calling themselves the Military Committee for Refoundation, claimed they had seized power.
However, the presidency told AFP that President Talon is safe and that loyalist forces are regaining control. The government described the coup attempt as the work of “a small group” with limited influence.
“This is a small group of people who only control the television. The regular army is regaining control. The city and the country are completely secure,” the presidency said.
More details to follow…
