Soldiers in Benin say they have seized power from President Talon

Soldiers in the West African nation of Benin have announced on national TV that they have ousted President Patrice Talon and seized power.

A message from the French embassy in Benin said gunfire had been reported near the residence of the president in the main city of Cotonou.

The soldiers also announced a suspension of the constitution, the closure of all land borders as well as the country's airspace.

According to their statement, Lieutenant-Colonel Tigri Pascal will be leading a military transition council.

They justified their actions by criticising President Talon's management of the country.

Talon, 67, is due to step down next year after completing his second term in office, with elections scheduled for April.

A businessman known as the "king of cotton", he first came to power in an election in 2016. He had promised not to seek a third term and had already named a successor.

The French Embassy has urged its citizens to stay indoors for their safety.

This apparent coup in Benin comes just over a week after Umaro Sissoco Embaló was overthrown as president in nearby Guinea-Bissau.

In recent years, there have been several coups in West Africa, including in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger, heightening fears that the security of the region could worsen.