On the evening of the 7th, Benin President Talon made a statement on Benin's national television, saying that the Benin armed forces had successfully thwarted an attempted coup, and that the situation was now “completely under control.”
He said: “I want to assure everyone that the situation is completely under control, so please feel free to resume your activities from tonight. The safety and public order throughout the country will be maintained.”
He pointed out that a small number of soldiers plotted the coup under the guise of “false claims,” but the Benin armed forces responded swiftly and foiled their scheme.
He condemned the attempted coup, stating it could have catastrophic consequences for the nation, and that “such acts of betrayal must be punished.”
On the evening of the 7th, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission issued a statement indicating that the chair of the ECOWAS Summit had ordered the immediate deployment of armed forces to Benin. The troops, comprised of forces from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d'Ivoire, and Ghana, will assist the Benin government and armed forces in upholding the country's constitutional order and territorial integrity.
On the 7th, Benin's Minister of Interior and Public Security, Sèïdou, said in a statement on national television that early that morning, a small number of soldiers launched a mutiny aimed at undermining the country and its institutions. The Benin armed forces took timely measures to control the situation and thwart the coup plot.
Benin is located in central-southern West Africa, with an area of about 110,000 square kilometers and a population of around 14 million. Since the 1990s, the political situation has remained generally stable, and Benin has long been considered one of the more peaceful and secure countries in West Africa. Talon was elected president in March 2016 and was re-elected in April 2021.