Benin was thrown into confusion on Sunday after a group of soldiers appeared on state television announcing the dissolution of the government and the removal of President Patrice Talon.

The soldiers, who identified themselves as members of the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR), said they had resolved that Talon was no longer president of the republic.

In the broadcast, the soldiers declared the suspension of the constitution, dissolution of all state institutions, and closure of the country’s land borders and airspace.

They also announced that Lieutenant-Colonel Tigri Pascal would head a military transition council. The whereabouts of President Talon remained unclear at the time of the declaration.

The French Embassy in Cotonou, in a tweet on X, confirmed that gunfire had been heard around Camp Guezo, close to the president’s official residence, urging French citizens in the country to stay indoors. The incident comes just days after Guinea-Bissau witnessed a similar attempted military takeover.

However, Talon’s entourage dismissed the soldiers’ announcement, saying the president was safe and that the situation was under control.

“This is a small group of people who only control the television. The regular army is regaining control. The city and the country are completely secure,” his office told AFP.