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France has condemned the attempted coup Benin and has called on its nationals in the country to stay alert, as Benin’s President Patrice Talon confirmed that the coup had been thwarted and the situation was “totally under control”.
 
France “condemns the attempted coup d’État” in Benin, the French Foreign Affairs Ministry said Sunday in a statement, calling “for respect for constitutional order and the normal functioning of institutions”.
 
France is “mobilised to ensure the security of the French community present in Benin, whom it urges to exercise the utmost caution”.
 
Beninese authorities said on Sunday that they had foiled an attempted coup aimed at overthrowing Talon.
 
On Sunday morning after reports of gunfire near the presidential residence, a group of soldiers calling themselves the “Military Committee for Refoundation” appeared on national television to announce that they had ousted Talon because of the “deterioration of the security situation” and his undermining of “fundamental freedoms”.
 
That sparked a response from loyal army forces supported by air strikes and troop deployments from neighbouring Nigeria, which struck undisclosed targets.
 
Talon appeared on national television Sunday evening, confirming that the situation was “totally under control” and that “security and public order will be maintained throughout the national territory”.
 
“This outrage will not go unpunished,” he added.