Benin’s President Patrice Talon has condemned an attempted coup that was thwarted by the country’s military on December 7, 2025. This incident marks a significant event in the context of recent political instability in West Africa. Sporadic gunfire was reported in the capital, Cotonou, as a group of soldiers publicly announced the dissolution of the government, claiming to represent a faction called the Military Committee for Refoundation.
In a televised address responding to the attempted coup, President Talon expressed his condolences to the victims of what he termed a “senseless adventure.” He noted that some individuals remain in the custody of the mutineers, assuring the nation, “We will do everything in our power to find them safe and sound.” Talon’s comments came after Interior Minister Alassane Seidou confirmed that the coup attempt had been successfully countered.
The coup attempt reflects ongoing turbulence in the region, which has recently witnessed a series of military takeovers. Just last month, a coup in Guinea-Bissau saw the removal of President Umaro Embalo following a contested election. Seidou detailed that a small group of soldiers had initiated the mutiny early on Sunday to undermine the state’s institutions. “Faced with this situation, the Beninese Armed Forces and their leadership, true to their oath, remained committed to the republic,” he stated.
In response to the unrest, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ordered the deployment of troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ivorian, and Ghana to assist the Beninese military in restoring order. ECOWAS characterized the coup attempt as “a subversion of the will of the people of Benin.” Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu praised the Nigerian armed forces for their swift action in supporting the Beninese government.
Local media outlets reported the arrest of 13 soldiers involved in the coup attempt, although it remains unclear whether the coup leader, Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, has been apprehended. Following the coup attempt, gunfire was heard in various locations of Cotonou, but the city has since experienced a return to relative calm.
The Military Committee for Refoundation had previously named Tigri as its president, indicating a shift in leadership aspirations. Following its independence from France in 1960, Benin has experienced a history of coups, though the country has enjoyed relative stability since 1991, following the two-decade rule of Marxist-Leninist leader Mathieu Kérékou.
President Talon, who has been in power since 2016, is scheduled to step down in April 2026 following the upcoming presidential election. His party’s candidate, former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, is currently the frontrunner. In a controversial move, the Beninese legislature recently extended the presidential term from five to seven years, maintaining a two-term limit. Opposition candidate Renaud Agbodjo was disqualified by the electoral commission for lacking sufficient support.
As the aftermath of the coup attempt unfolds, the situation in Benin remains fluid, with both local and regional implications for governance and stability in West Africa.
