Soldiers in neighbouring Benin have announced the overthrow of their President, Patrice Talon, on national television, saying they have seized power.
In the main city of Cotonou, the French embassy has said gunfire has been reported near the residence of the President.
The soldiers have also announced that the constitution has been suspended, with all borders, including land and airspace, closed.
According to the soldiers’ statement, Lieutenant-Colonel Tigri Pascal will be leading a military transition council.
The soldiers have justified their coup by criticising President Talon for mismanaging the country.
Talon, 67, is due to step down next year after completing his second term in office, with elections scheduled for April 2026.
A businessman known as the “king of cotton”, he first came to power in an election in 2016. He had promised not to seek a third term and had already named a successor.
The French Embassy has urged its citizens to stay indoors for their safety.
This apparent coup in Benin comes just over a week after Umaro Sissoco Embaló was overthrown as president in nearby Guinea-Bissau.
In recent years, there have been several coups in West Africa, including in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger, heightening fears that the security of the region could worsen.
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