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Explosions and sporadic gunfire were reported on Sunday morning at Tignon Barracks, located about six kilometres from Cotonou Airport in Benin, after soldiers involved in an attempted coup allegedly barricaded themselves inside the military facility, Casus Belli, an investigator, has revealed.
According to Belli, local informants reported that several officers involved in the mutiny, upon realising that the operation had collapsed, were seen hurriedly removing their uniforms and changing into civilian clothing in an attempt to evade arrest.
The attempted takeover was reportedly led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, who appeared on national television at dawn declaring himself head of a self-styled “Military Committee for Refoundation.”
The mutineers announced the suspension of the constitution and the dissolution of President Patrice Talon’s administration before the broadcast was abruptly cut off.
Hours later, Interior Minister Alassane Seidou addressed the nation in a recorded statement, declaring the coup attempt “foiled” and assuring citizens that loyalist forces had regained control of the situation.
The minister stated that “order is being restored,” though he did not provide details on the whereabouts of Lt. Col. Tigri. Security sources told SaharaReporters that the alleged ringleader may already have fled and is being sought by authorities.
Despite official assurances, conditions around the barracks remained unstable throughout the day.
Several residents confirmed hearing additional blasts and bursts of automatic fire into the afternoon, while others reported seeing soldiers moving through nearby streets without insignia, carrying bags and apparently searching for exit routes.
“A group of coup leaders is said to have taken refuge and barricaded themselves in these barracks, while Lieutenant Colonel Tigri is reportedly on the run and being hunted by Beninese authorities,” Belli said.
He added that some soldiers inside the barracks were reportedly changing into civilian clothes in order to escape.
Earlier, Belli also tweeted that three unidentified aircraft, including a military transport aircraft, were observed on flight radar arriving in Cotonou.
“Two of the unidentified aircraft came from Nigeria. The transport aircraft came from Ivory Coast,” he wrote.
The attempted coup has shaken Benin, long regarded as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies. ECOWAS and the African Union swiftly condemned the mutiny, urging all parties to respect constitutional order and warning against any attempt to derail civilian governance through force.
Security analysts say the coming hours will be critical in determining whether the situation has truly stabilised or whether further confrontation could occur between loyalist forces and plotters who refuse to surrender.
As dusk descended on Cotonou, uncertainty persisted. The number of soldiers still barricaded inside Tignon Barracks remained unknown, while military checkpoints continued to multiply across the city.
