Benin Military Thwarts Coup Attempt Led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, Regional Forces Intervene
Benin's military, backed by ECOWAS, thwarted a coup led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, now at large. Loyalists restored order after soldiers seized state TV, making arrests.
Al JazeeraBenin’s foiled coup: How it unfolded and what we know
ABC NewsBenin coup leader's location and fate of hostages unknown after failed takeover
Associated PressBenin coup leader's location and fate of hostages unknown after failed takeover
CBS NewsApparent coup attempt in Benin thwarted, interior minister says
Overview
On Sunday, a group of soldiers, the Committee for Refoundation, led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, seized Benin's national television station and announced a coup, claiming government control and President Patrice Talon's removal.
Benin's military, with crucial support from Nigerian troops, successfully thwarted the coup attempt by Sunday afternoon, launching attacks against fleeing mutineers and restoring state television and radio signals.
ECOWAS swiftly deployed a regional standby force, including troops from Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Sierra Leone, to Benin to support its army in preserving democracy and constitutional order.
Calm returned to Cotonou on Monday, though a strong military presence remained on the streets, while the coup leader, Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, is currently on the run with the fate of hostages, including senior military officers, unknown.
This incident highlights a concerning trend of military takeovers across West Africa since 2020, driven by factors like disputed elections and political instability, despite Benin's two decades of stable democratic governance.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover the failed Benin coup with a neutral, factual approach. They prioritize reporting the sequence of events, official statements, and regional context without employing loaded language or overt bias. The coverage focuses on conveying verified information, such as the coup's foiling and international reactions, maintaining an objective tone throughout the narrative.