Porto-Novo [Benin], December 8: Benin's Interior Minister Alassane Seidou has said that Benin's armed forces have thwarted an attempted coup in the West African nation.
"A small group of soldiers launched a mutiny with the aim of destabilising the country and its institutions," said Seidou early on Sunday.
"Faced with this situation, the Beninese Armed Forces and their leadership maintained control of the situation and foiled the attempt," he added.
About a dozen soldiers were arrested on Sunday evening, the AFP news agency quoted military and security sources as saying. One source told the agency that 13 arrests had been made, with another saying that all the detainees were soldiers in active service except one who was ex-military.
Earlier, Benin's government said loyalist soldiers and national guard had regained control after a group of soldiers announced on state television that they had seized power in an apparent coup attempt.
Foreign Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari said on Sunday that the coup plotters had taken control of state TV only and that the signal had been cut for several minutes.
A group of at least eight soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri had appeared on screen to claim the overthrow of President Patrice Talon, who has been in power since 2016, as well as all state institutions.(Agencies)
Source: Qatar Tribune
