Cotonou Returns to Routine After Swiftly Thwarted Coup Attempt

Life in Cotonou, Benin’s economic capital, returned to normal on Monday. Traffic flowed and businesses reopened, a day after government forces stopped a coup attempt. The brief takeover effort occurred on Sunday. Authorities stated that security and defense forces quickly contained the situation, preventing any sustained disruption. Officials have not yet released details about the plotters or potential casualties. The government confirmed that the situation is now fully under control and that an investigation is ongoing. Benin, a stable democracy in West Africa, has seen several successful and attempted military coups in the region in recent years. The swift return to order in Cotonou signals the attempt’s failure.