The United States Embassy in Cotonou on Monday confirmed that normalcy has returned to the city following a failed coup attempt on Sunday, lifting its earlier shelter-in-place advisory for American citizens.
In a statement, the embassy said it had reassessed the situation after a turbulent 24 hours.
“The US Embassy in Cotonou assesses that the situation in Cotonou is calm and has returned to normal. We are lifting the shelter-in-place recommendation,” the statement read.
The embassy, however, continued to advise Americans to exercise caution. “We encourage US citizens to continue to take precautions. As a reminder, these are the actions you can take: Monitor local media for updates; avoid crowds; avoid demonstrations; keep a low profile; and notify friends and family of your safety,” it said.
The advisory adjustment followed an attempted coup on Sunday when a faction of soldiers tried to overthrow President Patrice Talon’s government.
Residents in Cotonou reported waking to soldiers appearing on state television, claiming they had dissolved the government and suspended the constitution. The group, calling itself the “Military Committee for Refoundation,” declared that President Talon had been removed from office.
The broadcast came after an unsuccessful attack on the president’s heavily guarded residence. Failing to capture Talon, the mutineers seized the national broadcaster to project authority and seek support.
Reports also indicated temporary closure of borders and suspension of political parties, heightening uncertainty across the country.
Calm returned later in the day when Interior Minister Alassane Seidou announced that loyalist forces had regained control of strategic locations. Officials reported that at least 14 soldiers involved in the uprising were arrested, while others managed to flee.
