Benin’s government has announced that it has thwarted an attempted coup by a group of soldiers. According to Interior Minister Alassane Seidou, a small group of mutineers sought to destabilize the country and its institutions, but the Beninese Armed Forces successfully regained control. The incident occurred on Sunday in Cotonou, the country’s economic capital, where witnesses reported hearing gunfire.

The attempted coup began when a military group calling itself the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR) announced on state television that President Patrice Talon had been removed from office. However, the president’s entourage quickly confirmed that he was safe, and the regular army stated that it had regained control of the situation.

The CMR’s announcement was made early on Sunday, but the signal was cut later in the morning. A source close to President Talon told AFP that the president was secure and that the regular army was regaining control of the city and the country. The situation was described as returning to normal, with a “clean-up” operation underway.

President Talon, who has been in office for 10 years, is due to hand over power in April next year. His presidency has been marked by solid economic growth, but also a surge in jihadist violence. The main opposition party has been excluded from the upcoming election, and the ruling party will face a “moderate” opposition.

The attempted coup has highlighted the country’s political tensions ahead of the presidential election. The government has maintained that the situation is under control, and the city and country are secure. The incident has also raised concerns about the country’s stability and the transition of power.

The Beninese government has not provided further details on the attempted coup or the measures being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. The international community is likely to be watching the situation closely, given the country’s strategic location in West Africa and its importance in regional stability. As the situation continues to unfold, the government’s ability to maintain control and ensure a peaceful transition of power will be closely monitored.