Security forces in Benin were on Monday continuing the search for fugitive soldiers involved in a foiled coup attempt after all hostages, including senior military officers, were released.
Cotonou, the country economic capital, returned to calm by Monday afternoon as traffic resumed normally following Sunday announcement by a group of soldiers on national television that they had removed President Patrice Talon. Talon later addressed the nation, assuring citizens that the situation was completely under control.
The 67 year old president is expected to hand over power in April after completing two terms in office. His tenure has coincided with rising jihadist violence in northern Benin. The aborted takeover also followed a series of military coups across the region, including in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea and Guinea Bissau.
Benin sought rapid military assistance from neighbouring Nigeria, which confirmed that it carried out military strikes on Cotonou and deployed troops. The Economic Community of West African States also announced that troops from Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Sierra Leone were being deployed to help preserve constitutional order.
A military source quoted by AFP said authorities were unable to determine how many soldiers were involved in the plot but confirmed that several had fled while arrests had been made. Reports indicated that about 12 suspects had been arrested, while the alleged leader of the coup, Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, remains on the run.
Two senior officers, Chief of Army Staff Abou Issa and Colonel Faizou Gomina, who were earlier taken hostage, were released near the National Guard headquarters in Cotonou.
International organisations including the United Nations, the African Union, France and ECOWAS condemned the coup attempt. Benin political history has witnessed several coups and attempted takeovers since independence in 1960.
