Explosions hit military barracks as Benin coup plotters reportedly try to flee

Explosions and bursts of gunfire were reported early Sunday at Tignon Barracks, roughly six kilometres from the Cotonou airport, after soldiers linked to an attempted coup allegedly sealed themselves inside the military compound, according to investigator Casus Belli.

Belli said local sources indicated that several officers involved in the mutiny, aware the operation had failed, were seen hastily removing their uniforms and changing into civilian clothing in a last-ditch attempt to escape arrest.

The abortive power grab was reportedly orchestrated by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, who had briefly appeared on national television at dawn proclaiming himself head of a so-called “Military Committee for Refoundation.” During the broadcast, the mutineers declared the constitution suspended and announced the dissolution of President Patrice Talon’s government before the transmission was cut.

Hours later, Interior Minister Alassane Seidou appeared in a taped message describing the coup as “foiled” and stating that loyalist forces had taken back control. He reassured citizens that “order is being restored,” though he did not clarify where Tigri might be. Security officials said that the alleged mastermind could already be attempting to flee.

Despite the government’s assertions, tension around Tignon persisted throughout the day. Residents said they continued to hear explosions and automatic gunfire well into the afternoon. Others reported seeing uniformed men without insignia moving quickly through nearby streets with bags, apparently seeking informal escape routes.

“A group of coup leaders are said to have taken refuge and barricaded themselves in these barracks, while Lieutenant Colonel Tigri (the leader of the coup) is reportedly on the run and being hunted by the Beninese authorities,” Belli said. He added: “Some of the soldiers in Tignon are said to be changing into civilian clothes in order to flee and escape the local authorities.”

Earlier, Belli had posted on X that “three unidentified aircraft (including a military transport aircraft) were spotted on flight radar arriving in Cotonou.”

The attempted coup has rattled Benin, a country often cited as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies. Both ECOWAS and the African Union swiftly condemned the action, urging respect for constitutional rule and warning against any disruption of civilian governance.

Security experts say the situation remains fluid and that the coming hours will determine whether calm has truly returned or if a final standoff could erupt between loyal troops and holdouts refusing to surrender.

As night fell in Cotonou, uncertainty persisted. The exact number of mutineers still sheltering inside Tignon Barracks was unclear, while military checkpoints increased across the city.

(SAHARA REPORTERS)