COTONOU, Benin — Government forces have quashed an armed mutiny by a faction of soldiers who briefly seized the national broadcaster on Sunday in an attempt to dissolve state institutions. The swift response by loyalist troops restored order, according to authorities.
In a televised address, President Patrice Talon declared the situation “totally under control” and vowed that the act of “treachery” would not go unpunished. The mutineers, who identified themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundation,” used their airtime to announce the dissolution of the government and the appointment of a new military leader.
The incident prompted an immediate regional response. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) authorized the deployment of its standby force to support Benin’s constitutional order. Contingents from member states, including Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Sierra Leone, have been mobilized.
Nigerian military aircraft were also active in Beninese airspace at the government’s request, conducting operations to help dislodge the renegade soldiers from key locations.
By Sunday afternoon, security officials reported over a dozen arrests linked to the plot. While sporadic gunfire was heard in parts of the economic capital, Cotonou, the city remained largely calm following the government’s reassertion of control.
The failed uprising marks a significant breach of stability in a nation that has not experienced a successful coup in over five decades. It occurs against a backdrop of heightened regional instability, where several neighboring countries have recently fallen under military rule, and as Benin prepares for a pivotal presidential election scheduled for April.
Analysts note that the mutineers cited grievances related to national security and the welfare of military personnel. Northern Benin has faced increasing spillover violence from jihadist conflicts in the Sahel, presenting a persistent security challenge even amid broader economic progress under the current administration.
The upcoming vote is expected to conclude President Talon’s second term, with the electoral landscape already a subject of intense political focus.