Calm don return for Cotonou after soldiers wey wan overthrow Benin Republic President, Patrice Talon, fail for dia coup attempt wey happen on Sunday. Di United States Embassy wey first tell Americans make dem stay indoors don lift dat warning, say everywhere don calm again.
For statement wey dem release on Monday, di US Embassy talk say: “Di situation for Cotonou don calm and e don return to normal. We dey lift di shelter-in-place recommendation.”
Dem still warn Americans make dem shine eye, avoid crowd and maintain low profile.
Dis update come after one group of soldiers wey call demselves Military Committee for Refoundation try scatter government. Dem attack di president house but dem no succeed. After dat, dem rush go national TV go announce say dem don dissolve government and suspend constitution.
Di confusion cause wahala across di country as borders close small time and political parties suspend activity. People fear say wahala fit spread.
But by Sunday evening, Interior Minister Alassane Seidou announce say government forces don take back control for all key places for Cotonou. At least 14 soldiers wey join di coup don enter police hand while some run comot.
Two big military officers — Chief of Army Staff Abou Issa and Colonel Faizou Gomina — wey coup people bin carry as hostage, regain freedom on Monday. Nigeria join hand with Benin to help release dem after Benin call for quick support from ECOWAS countries.
Di coup attempt na another example of di political shakings wey dey disturb West Africa, after coups for Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. ECOWAS don send soldiers from Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Sierra Leone go support Benin to protect democracy.
UN, African Union, France and other international partners condemn di coup, talk say dem stand gidigba behind democratic rule.
President Talon dey serve him second and last term and no fit contest again. Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni dey lead as favorite for April presidential election, but critics dey accuse Talon say him government dey behave authoritarian even though e bring some economic improvements.
Benin get long history of coups since independence for 1960, but dis one na among di few wey dem fit stop quick before e scatter country stability.
