West Africa Politics

Interior Minister Alassane Seidou said in a Facebook video that a small group of soldiers launched a mutiny in Benin on Dec. 7 that was foiled, with local media reporting 13 soldiers arrested while the status of alleged coup leader Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri remained unclear. Gunfire was heard and soldiers patrolled parts of Cotonou as state TV and public radio signals were briefly cut and later restored; ECOWAS condemned the attempt and pledged to defend Benin’s constitution, and there was no official word on President Patrice Talon’s whereabouts.