Explosions and heavy gunfire were reported on Sunday morning at Tignon Barracks, located about six kilometres from Cotonou Airport in Benin Republic, after soldiers involved in an attempted coup allegedly barricaded themselves inside the military facility.
According to investigator Casus Belli, local informants revealed that several officers who took part in the mutiny panicked after realising the operation had failed. Many were reportedly seen removing their uniforms and changing into civilian clothes in a desperate attempt to escape arrest.
The attempted takeover was allegedly led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, who appeared on national television at dawn, declaring himself head of a self-styled “Military Committee for Refoundation.”
During the brief broadcast, the mutineers announced the suspension of the constitution and the dissolution of President Patrice Talon’s government before the transmission was abruptly cut off.
Hours later, Interior Minister Alassane Seidou addressed the nation in a recorded message, announcing that the coup attempt had been “foiled” and assuring citizens that loyalist forces were back in control.
He added that “order is being restored”, though he did not disclose the whereabouts of Lt. Col. Tigri. Security sources told SaharaReporters that the alleged mastermind may have already fled and is currently being pursued by authorities.
Despite the minister’s assurances, tension around Tignon Barracks remained high throughout the day.
Residents in nearby communities confirmed hearing additional explosions and bursts of automatic gunfire well into the afternoon. Others reported sightings of soldiers without insignia moving through the streets with bags—apparently attempting to flee the area.
Casus Belli further stated:
“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.”
He added that some of the soldiers inside the facility were attempting to disguise themselves in civilian clothing to escape.
Adding to the tension, Belli revealed on social media that three unidentified aircraft, including a military transport plane, were seen on flight radar arriving in Cotonou shortly after the chaos began.
“Two of the unidentified aircraft came from Nigeria, while the transport plane originated from Ivory Coast,” he wrote.
The attempted coup has rattled Benin, a nation long regarded as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies. Both ECOWAS and the African Union swiftly condemned the mutiny, calling for strict adherence to constitutional order and warning against any forceful takeover of government.
Security analysts warn that the next few hours will be crucial in determining whether stability has truly been restored or if further clashes may erupt between loyalist forces and hold-out mutineers.
As nightfall approached in Cotonou, uncertainty still hung in the air.
The exact number of soldiers still barricaded inside Tignon Barracks remained unclear, while military checkpoints continued to multiply across the city—signalling that the situation is far from over.
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