West African troops sent to Benin after coup attempt

Troops from the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) were sent to Benin after the attempted coup in the country. This was reported on December 8 by The Guardian newspaper.

ECOWAS, a regional bloc in West Africa, said it had ordered the immediate deployment of elements of its reserve forces in the country, which has a population of about 14.5 million people.

The force includes soldiers from Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, who have been deployed to support the Government and the Republican Army of Benin in order to ensure the preservation of constitutional order and the territorial integrity of the country.

In addition, the Nigerian Air Force struck targets in Benin, according to the source.

An attempted military coup took place in Benin. What you need to know

Actualites229 reported on December 7 that 13 people involved in the attempted coup had been detained in Benin. According to media reports, these individuals stormed the office of the national television channel, where the rebels issued a statement on the removal of President Patrice Talon, the suspension of the Constitution and the termination of the activities of political parties.

The 24 Heures au Benin newspaper reported that the Benin Republican Guard had detained a group of soldiers who had announced an attempted coup on national television in the morning. The military in Benin, which seized control of national television, said it had removed Talon from office. In addition, Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, who led the takeover of television, declared himself chairman of the military reconstruction committee.

The Russian Embassy in Benin called on Russian citizens to "stay in their homes" until the situation is clarified in connection with the military's statement about the seizure of power.

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