Benin president condemns soldiers who attempted coup

Beninese 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.

- BY VIRGILE AHISSOU AND OPE ADETAYO

SOLDIERS ride in a military vehicle along a street in Cotonou, Benin, during Sunday's attempted coup.

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 had not commented.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to express my condolences to the victims of this senseless adventure, as well as to those still being held by the fleeing mutineers,” the president said in a televised address to the nation that ended his silence. “I assure them that we will do everything in our power to find them safe and sound.”

The president did not provide figures on casualties or hostages.