Soldiers say they have ousted President Talon

Soldiers in the West African country of Benin announced on state television that they had ousted President Patrice Talon and seized power.

A message from the French Embassy in Benin stated that a shooting incident was reported near the presidential palace in the main city of Cotonou, the seat of government.

Soldiers also suspended the constitution and closed all land borders as well as the country’s airspace.

But officials close to the president said he was fine and that the station’s small group of soldiers had no support from regular troops.

“The situation is under control. A large part of the army remains loyal and we are taking over the situation,” Foreign Minister Shegun Adjadi Bakari told Reuters.

“This is a small group of people who only control the television. The city and the country are completely safe,” a presidential source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The president’s whereabouts are unclear.

Heavy military personnel blocked roads in several streets in Cotonou.

Benin is considered one of the more stable democracies in Africa. It is one of the largest cotton producers on the African continent, but also one of the poorest countries in the world.

The French and Russian embassies have urged their citizens to stay indoors for safety.

The U.S. Embassy said it was monitoring the situation and advised staying away from Cotonou, especially the area around the presidential palace.

Lieutenant Colonel Tigris Pascal will lead a military transition council, according to a statement read by soldiers.

They justified their actions by criticizing President Talon’s management of the country.

Tallon, 67, will resign after completing his second term next year, with elections scheduled for April.

Known as the “King of Cotton,” the businessman first came to power in the 2016 election. He pledged not to seek a third term and endorsed Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni as his successor.

Tallon has been praised by supporters for overseeing economic development, but his government has also been criticized for stifling dissent.

In October, the electoral commission banned the main opposition candidate from running on the grounds that he did not have enough supporters.

The apparent coup in Benin comes just over a week after President Umaro Sissoco Embaló was overthrown in nearby Guinea-Bissau.

In recent years, multiple coups have occurred in West African regions such as Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger, exacerbating concerns that the security situation in the region may worsen.

Jihadist activity has increased in Benin in recent years, with groups linked to Islamic State and al-Qaida spreading to the south.