Benin’s president, Patrice Talon, has spoken out against a botched effort to seize power, breaking his silence after gunfire echoed through sections of Cotonou on Sunday.
Addressing the nation on television, Talon denounced the mutiny and sought to reassure the public that constitutional order had been restored. His comments followed a tense morning in which soldiers briefly went on air to claim the government had been dissolved, raising fears of another coup in a region already grappling with repeated military interventions.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to express my condolences to the victims of this senseless adventure, as well as to those still being held by the fleeing mutineers,” Talon said during the address. “I assure them that we will do everything in our power to find them safe and sound.”
The unrest began earlier in the day when a group of soldiers, calling themselves the Military Committee for Refoundation, took over the state broadcaster for a short time. Their televised declaration suggested an attempt to topple the government was underway, triggering anxiety both domestically and across West Africa.
Hours later, Interior Minister Alassane Seidou announced that the effort had failed and that security forces loyal to the government were back in control. During the unfolding events, Talon’s location was not made public and he initially refrained from commenting.
“In the early morning of Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, a small group of soldiers launched a mutiny to destabilize the state and its institutions,” Seidou said in a Facebook video. “Faced with this situation, the Beninese Armed Forces and their leadership, true to their oath, remained committed to the republic.”
Authorities did not provide information on casualties or confirm whether any hostages were taken during the attempted takeover.
The Economic Community of West African States quickly condemned the action, calling it “a subversion of the will of the people of Benin.” The bloc said it approved the deployment of troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, and Ghana to reinforce Benin’s army and safeguard constitutional governance.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu commended his country’s military for assisting Benin. In a statement, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said Beninese authorities made two separate requests for help, asking for both air and ground support.
“It took some hours before the government’s loyal forces, assisted by Nigeria, took control and flushed out the coup plotters from the National TV,” Onanuga said.
Reports from local media indicated that 13 soldiers were arrested in connection with the plot, citing sources close to the presidency. Uncertainty remains over whether the alleged leader of the group, Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, has been detained. The Military Committee for Refoundation had previously named Tigri as its head. Although gunshots were heard and soldiers were deployed in parts of Cotonou, the situation eased as the day progressed.
Broadcast services for state television and public radio, which had been interrupted during the unrest, were later restored, according to AP’s report.
Benin’s political history includes multiple coups following independence from France in 1960. Stability largely returned in 1991 with the introduction of multi-party democracy after years under Marxist-Leninist ruler Mathieu Kérékou, setting Benin apart from some of its neighbors in recent decades.
Talon, who assumed office in 2016, is expected to step down in April after presidential elections. His preferred successor, former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, is widely regarded as the leading contender. Opposition candidate Renaud Agbodjo was disqualified after electoral authorities ruled that he lacked sufficient sponsorship.
The country has faced lingering political strain. In January, two of Talon’s associates received 20-year prison sentences over accusations tied to an alleged coup plot in 2024. Lawmakers also approved a constitutional change last month extending presidential terms from five to seven years while retaining a two-term limit.
The failed uprising in Benin adds to a recent wave of political shocks across West Africa. Only last month, Guinea-Bissau’s president, Umaro Embalo, was removed following a contested election in which rival candidates both claimed victory.
