COTONOU, Benin — A gaggle of troopers has appeared on Benin ’s state TV asserting the dissolution of the federal government in an obvious coup, the newest of many in West Africa.
The group, which referred to as itself the Navy Committee for Refoundation, on Sunday introduced the elimination of the president and all state establishments.
Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri has been appointed president of the army committee, the troopers mentioned.
President Patrice Talon had been in energy since 2016 and was attributable to step down subsequent April after the presidential election.
Talon’s celebration decide, former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, was the favourite to win the election. Opposition candidate Renaud Agbodjo was rejected by the electoral fee on the grounds that he didn’t have enough sponsors.
Final month, the nation’s legislature extended the presidential term of office from 5 to seven years, retaining the time period restrict at two.
The coup is the newest in a string of army takeovers which have rocked West Africa. Final week, a military coup in Guinea-Bissau eliminated former President Umaro Embalo after a contested election through which each he and the opposition candidate declared themselves winners.
