Benin troopers announce on tv they seized energy from President Patrice Talon in obvious coup

 A gaggle of troopers on Benin’s nationwide tv claimed to have seized energy within the West African nation on Sunday.

The announcement got here because the West African nation was making ready for a presidential election in April that might mark the tip of the tenure of incumbent Patrice Talon, in energy since 2016.

Benin’s ruling coalition had nominated Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni to be its candidate, positioning a person seen as a key architect of its financial insurance policies to pursue the administration’s present reform agenda if elected.

Talon’s choice to step down after two phrases was a uncommon transfer within the West and Central Africa area the place democratic norms are more and more below strain.

A coup final month in Guinea-Bissau was the ninth within the area since 2020.