In West Africa, Benin’s government today said its armed forces had foiled a coup attempt after a group of soldiers claimed on national television to have seized power.

At least eight soldiers, some wearing helmets, appeared on state TV this morning announced that a military committee led by Colonel Tigri Pascal had taken control. They declared the dissolution of national institutions, the suspension of the constitution, and the closure of all air, land, and maritime borders. The group replaced President Patrice Talon with Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri as president of the military committee.

However, few hours later Interior Minister Alassane Seidou in a statement said that the West African country’s armed forces had thwarted the attempted coup.  He urged citizens to to go about their business as usual.

The attempted takeover is the latest threat to democratic rule in West Africa, where militaries have seized power in neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso in recent years, as well as in Mali, Guinea, and just last month Guinea-Bissau.

The incident comes as Benin prepares for a presidential election in April, which will mark the end of President Patrice Talon’s term in office. He has been in power since 2016.