Around a dozen soldiers have been arrested in Benin following an attempted coup, including the alleged ringleaders of the foiled operation, military and security sources told AFP on Sunday.
One source confirmed that 13 suspects had been taken into custody, while another added that all the detainees are currently serving soldiers except one, who is a former member of the armed forces.
The arrests came hours after an unexpected broadcast on Benin’s national television on Sunday morning, during which a group of military officers announced the ouster of President Patrice Talon and the dissolution of all state institutions.
The officers, who identified themselves as the Military Committee for Refoundation, claimed they had seized power and assumed control of the state.
However, the presidency told AFP that President Talon remains safe and that loyalist forces have been deployed to restore order.
Describing the incident as the work of “a small group” with limited capacity, the presidency said:
“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.”
