In a dramatic turn of events, the Benin has become the latest West African nation to face a military takeover attempt, adding to a troubling pattern of coups sweeping across the region since 2020.
On Sunday, a group of soldiers stormed the state television channel in Benin, declaring the overthrow of President Patrice Talon and the dissolution of the government. The brief but intense mutiny was quelled within hours, according to Interior Minister Alassane Seidou, who confirmed in a widely circulated video that the “attempted coup aimed to destabilize the nation’s democratic institutions.” He reassured citizens that the military remains “firmly committed to the Republic.
