COTONOU, Benin — A coup that was announced in Benin has been “foiled,” the interior minister said Sunday in a video on Facebook, but there was no word from the president and sporadic gunshots were heard in parts of the administrative capital, Cotonou.

Benin thwarted an attempted coup after loyalist forces, backed by Nigerian and regional troops, regained control. President Patrice Talon said the situation was under control as arrests followed.

Patrice Talon has been trending on social media since Sunday, December 7. This is after he narrowly survived a dramatic and unexpected coup attempt in Benin — an event that jolted both his country and the wider West Africa region.

Nigerian armed forces intervened in support of Benin’s defence and security forces to thwart the putsch attempt led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri. Why and how was this operation conducted?

A group of soldiers in the West African nation of Benin claimed on national television to have seized power on Sunday, though the government said forces loyal to President Patrice Talon were working to foil the coup plot.

Benin thwarted a coup attempt by soldiers trying to oust President Patrice Talon. Gunfire erupted in Cotonou, signaling a takeover attempt. Loyal forces retained control, with Nigeria's assistance. Arrests followed and ECOWAS condemned the incident,

Group of soldiers claims to have ousted President Patrice Talon, naming Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri head of so-called Military Committee for Refoundation - Anadolu Ajansı

"Benin and Nigeria share a long, porous border and extensive economic interdependence," Durmaz said. "For Nigeria, a military coup and potential collapse of state order in Benin r