Soldiers from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Ghana are being sent to Benin after West Africa's regional bloc ECOWAS ordered the immediate deployment of elements of its standby force to the country following an attempted coup on Sunday. Addressing the nation on state TV, Benin President Patrice Talon said the situation was "totally under control". Read our blog to see how the day's events unfolded
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Benin's president condemns a foiled coup bid
Benin President Patrice Talon on Sunday condemned an attempted coup that was foiled by the country's army in his first public comments since sporadic gunfire was heard in parts of the administrative capital, Cotonou.
A group of soldiers appeared on Benin ’s state TV earlier Sunday to announce the dissolution of the government in an apparent coup, which would have been the latest of many in West Africa. The group called itself the Military Committee for Refoundation.
Later, Interior Minister Alassane Seidou announced in a video on Facebook that the attempted coup had been “foiled,” but Talon, whose location was unclear, did not comment.
Nigerian president's office confirms deployment of fighter jets and ground troops to Benin
Nigeria sent air force fighter jets to take over Benin's airspace at the request of President Patrice Talon's government to help dislodge the coup plotters from the state television network and a military camp, a statement from Nigerian President Bola Tinubu's office said.
Nigeria has also sent ground troops, the statement said.
'If there's a coup, then ECOWAS will be willing to step in': West Africa bloc orders troops to Benin
The ECOWAS West Africa regional bloc on Sunday ordered the deployment of troops from four countries to Benin following an attempted coup.
FRANCE 24's Nigeria correspondent Sam Olukoya gives his analysis on the signal that ECOWAS is sending to other countries across a part of Africa increasingly prone to military putsches.
Nigeria's air force conducting operations in Benin, spokesperson says
Nigeria's air force has "operated" in Benin as Beninese authorities work to contain a coup attempt, an air force spokesperson said.
"The Nigerian Air Force has operated in the Republic of Benin in line with ECOWAS protocols and the ECOWAS Standby Force mandate," Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said.
The West African regional bloc earlier said it was ordering the immediate deployment of "elements" of its standby force following the coup attempt.
West Africa's ECOWAS bloc orders deployment of standby force to Benin
West Africa's regional bloc ECOWAS said it has ordered the immediate deployment of elements of its standby force to Benin following a foiled coup attempt in the country.
Soldiers from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Ghana are being sent to "support the Government and the Republican Army of Benin to preserve constitutional order and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Benin", the bloc said in a statement.
'This treachery will not go unpunished', Benin's president says in TV address
'The situation is totally under control', Talon says on state TV following coup attempt
After an awkward few moments where the Bénin Télévision presenter was forced to stall for time by playing news packages on local sport and cultural events, Benin's President Patrice Talon appeared on state TV to address the nation for the first time following an attempted coup.
Talon said that a small group of soldiers had attacked the country's state institutions, but claimed that the situation was "totally under control".
Talon says "a group of soldiers" attacked Benin's state institutions
Benin's President Patrice Talon appears on state TV following attempted coup
Benin's President Patrice Talon is speaking on state television, his first appearance since being targeted by an attempted coup earlier in the day.
'Everything is slowly getting back to business as usual': Benin government claims to have thwarted coup
FRANCE 24's international affairs editor Kethevane Gorjestani breaks down what we know so far about the attempted coup that shook Cotonou/
Paris formally denies sheltering Benin officials in French embassy
France has formally denied rumours that Benin government officials sought refuge in its embassy in Cotonou during Sunday's coup attempt, foreign affairs ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said in a social media post.
Confavreux said that Paris was closely monitoring the situation and that it was calling on French nationals in Benin to remain in their homes.
'This will be a test to its institutions': What does the coup attempt mean for Benin's future?
An upcoming presidential election, long-running social and economic grievances, worsening jihadist violence in the country's north – with the on-the-ground situation in Cotonou still far from certain, the putschists' motivations remain unclear.
Beverly Ochieng, a senior analyst at Control Risk's Global Risk Analysis in Dakar, Senegal, weighs in on some of the emerging threats to the country's hard-won stability.
Beninese troops patrol outside the country's radio and television station headquarters
Beninese soldiers take up positions in front of the headquarters of Benin's radio and television station in Cotonou. Photo: Charles Placide Tossou, Reuters
Fourteen arrested over Benin coup attempt, government spokesperson says
Fourteen people have been arrested in connection with an attempted coup in Benin, a government spokesperson told Reuters.
Military and security sources earlier told AFP that 13 soldiers had been arrested for allegedly taking part in the coup attempt.
Benin arrests a dozen soldiers over coup attempt: military and security sources
Around a dozen soldiers have been arrested in Benin following an attempted coup, including the ringleaders of the foiled operation, military and security sources told AFP.
One source said 13 arrests had been made, with another adding that all the detainees were soldiers in active service except one who was ex-military.
FRANCE 24 takes a look back at the morning’s events in Benin
African Union 'unequivocally condemns' attempted coup in Benin
The African Union (AU), the African continent’s main political and diplomatic body, on Sunday “strongly and unequivocally” condemned the attempted coup in Benin, a statement from AU Commission Chairman Mahmoud Ali Yousouf said.
West Africa’s ECOWAS bloc 'strongly condemns' attempted military coup
West Africa’s ECOWAS bloc said in a statement that it strongly condemned the attempted military coup in Benin and would support efforts by the government to restore order.
“ECOWAS strongly condemns this unconstitutional move that represents a subversion of the will of the people of Benin ... ECOWAS will support the Government and the people in all forms necessary, including the deployment of the regional standby force, to defend the Constitution and the territorial integrity of Benin,” the bloc said in a statement.
Watch the interior minister’s statement (in French)
Benin's interior minister says armed forces thwart coup attempt
Benin's interior minister, Alassane Seidou, said in a statement on Sunday that the West African country's armed forces had thwarted an attempted coup.
“A small group of soldiers launched a mutiny with the aim of destabilising the country and its institutions,” he said.
“Faced with this situation, the Beninese Armed Forces and their leadership maintained control of the situation and foiled the attempt.”
