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Manhunt Intensifies As Benin Republic Pursues Fugitive Coup Plotters.
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All hostages freed as regional forces back government stability efforts.
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ECOWAS troops deployed while alleged coup leader remains on the run.
Benin Republic has intensified its security operation to track down fugitive soldiers linked to Sunday’s failed coup attempt, as regional forces rally behind President Patrice Talon to maintain stability in the country.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Calm gradually returned to Cotonou on Monday after a day marked by gunfire and confusion. Authorities confirmed that all hostages seized during the brief revolt, including two senior military officers, were released overnight into Monday.
President Talon, 67, addressed the nation late Sunday, assuring citizens that the situation was “completely under control.” He also vowed that the “treachery will not go unpunished,” signalling a firm response to the attempted power grab.
The Beninese military disclosed that the chief of army staff, Abou Issa, and the army chief, Colonel Faizou Gomina, were freed near the National Guard headquarters in Cotonou. Both officers had been held by the rebels during the short-lived mutiny.
Despite the restoration of order, security agencies are still pursuing the suspected plotters. AFP quoted a military source who said the alleged mastermind, Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, remained at large. “The search continues,” the source said, adding that about a dozen soldiers had been arrested, while others were believed to have escaped into rural communities.
The incident drew swift reactions across West Africa, where several countries have recently experienced military takeovers. Nigeria confirmed late Sunday that it conducted military strikes in Cotonou and deployed troops in support of Benin at the government’s request.
ECOWAS also announced immediate military assistance from Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, stressing that the bloc was committed to preserving constitutional rule. The African Union, the United Nations, and France issued statements condemning the attempted coup.
The foiled uprising comes months before President Talon is expected to leave office in April 2026, as the constitution bars him from seeking another term. While his administration has been praised for economic reforms, critics accuse him of tightening political control, particularly after the main opposition Democrats party was excluded from the upcoming presidential election.
