A group of Beninese soldiers announced on Sunday that they had removed President Patrice Talon from power and appointed Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri to head a new body called the “Military Committee for Refoundation.”
The announcement was made on state television.
In a separate statement, the French Embassy in Benin said gunfire had been reported at Camp Guezo, a military base located near the presidential residence in the capital.
The embassy urged French nationals to remain indoors until the security situation becomes clearer.
Patrice Talon, a former businessman, has served as president of Benin since 2016 and was re-elected in 2021.
The situation remains fluid, and it is not yet clear whether Talon is in custody or if the military fully controls government institutions.