A group of soldiers appeared on Benin’s state television Sunday to declare that they had dissolved the government in what appears to be a military coup — the latest in a wave of takeovers across West Africa.

Identifying themselves as the Military Committee for Refoundation, the soldiers announced that they had removed the president and all state institutions. They said Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri had been appointed to lead the military committee.

Benin, once plagued by repeated coups after gaining independence from France in 1960, had enjoyed relative political stability since 1991, following the long rule of Marxist-Leninist leader Mathieu Kérékou.

“Everything is fine,” government spokesperson Wilfried Houngbedji told The Associated Press, offering no further explanation. There has been no official information about the whereabouts or safety of President Patrice Talon, after gunfire was reportedly heard near the presidential residence. State TV and public radio both went off the air shortly after the military announcement.

Talon, who has governed since 2016, was expected to leave office next April following presidential elections. His party’s candidate, former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, had been widely considered the frontrunner. Opposition candidate Renaud Agbodjo was disqualified by the electoral commission for allegedly lacking the required number of political sponsors.

Tensions had been rising in the country. In January, two of Talon’s associates were sentenced to 20 years in prison over an alleged 2024 coup plot. Then, last month, Benin’s legislature extended the presidential term from five to seven years, while maintaining the two-term limit.

The apparent coup adds Benin to a growing list of West African nations experiencing military takeovers. Just last month, Guinea-Bissau’s former president Umaro Embalo was removed by the military after both he and his opponent claimed victory in a disputed election.