A military uprising that culminated with soldiers commandeering state television to declare they had overthrown President Patrice Talon has been “foiled,” Benin’s interior minister announced Sunday in a video posted on Facebook, though the whereabouts of the president remained unclear and sporadic gunfire continued echoing through parts of the administrative capital as security forces worked to restore complete governmental control.
“In the early morning of Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, a small group of soldiers launched a mutiny with the aim of destabilizing the state and its institutions,” Interior Minister Alassane Seidou stated in his video address to the nation. “Faced with this situation, the Beninese Armed Forces and their leadership, true to their oath, remained committed to the republic,” characterizing the incident as an isolated action by a limited faction rather than a widespread military rebellion.
Local media outlets reported the detention of 13 soldiers who participated in the coup attempt earlier on Sunday, citing sources with connections to the presidency. However, it remains uncertain whether Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, identified as the mutiny’s leader, has been apprehended by authorities. Gunfire was audible and soldiers were observed patrolling around certain locations throughout Cotonou, though the city has remained relatively calm since the coup announcement was broadcast, suggesting the attempted seizure of power failed to generate broader military or civilian support.
Earlier on Sunday, a group of soldiers appeared on Benin’s state television network to announce the dissolution of the government in an apparent coup d’état, the latest in a succession of military takeovers that have destabilized West Africa’s democratic institutions over recent years. The broadcast represented a dramatic moment as armed personnel interrupted normal programming to declare they had assumed control of the government.
According to the Associated Press, the group, which designated itself the Military Committee for Refoundation, announced the removal of the president and all state institutions from power. Tigri was appointed president of the military committee, the soldiers declared during their televised statement, attempting to establish legitimacy through formal organizational structure and leadership designation.
Following its independence from France in 1960, the West African nation witnessed multiple coups, particularly in the decades immediately following its liberation from colonial rule. Since 1991, the country has maintained political stability following the two-decade rule of Marxist-Leninist leader Mathieu Kérékou, whose eventual democratic transition established Benin as a model for peaceful governance in a region frequently plagued by political violence and unconstitutional transfers of power.
No official information about President Talon has emerged from government sources since gunshots were heard near the presidential residence. However, the signal to state television and public radio, which was temporarily interrupted during the coup announcement, has now been restored, suggesting authorities have regained control of broadcasting infrastructure that the mutineers briefly commandeered to amplify their message.
The regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), condemned the coup attempt in a forcefully worded statement. “ECOWAS strongly condemns this unconstitutional move that represents a subversion of the will of the people of Benin. … ECOWAS will support the Government and the people in all forms necessary to defend the Constitution and the territorial integrity of Benin,” the bloc declared, positioning the organization firmly behind constitutional governance and signaling potential intervention if the mutiny succeeded.
Talon has held power since 2016 and is scheduled to step down next April following the presidential election, having reached the constitutional limit of two terms. His impending departure through constitutional processes makes the timing of the coup attempt particularly notable, as mutineers apparently sought to preempt the electoral succession rather than allow the scheduled transition.
Talon’s party selection, former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, is considered the favorite to win the upcoming election. Opposition candidate Renaud Agbodjo was rejected by the electoral commission on grounds that he did not secure sufficient sponsors, a controversial decision that opposition figures characterize as manipulation of the electoral process to benefit ruling party candidates.
In January, two associates of Talon were sentenced to 20 years in prison for an alleged 2024 coup plot, demonstrating that Sunday’s mutiny represents at least the second significant threat to the government within the past year. The earlier conspiracy suggests underlying political tensions and dissatisfaction within certain military or political factions despite Benin’s reputation for relative stability.
Last month, the country’s legislature extended the presidential term of office from five to seven years while maintaining the term limit at two mandates. This constitutional modification generated controversy among opposition groups who viewed the change as potentially enabling future leaders to consolidate power for extended periods, though it does not affect Talon’s imminent departure given his existing term limits.
The coup attempt constitutes the latest in a succession of military takeovers that have destabilized West Africa. Last month, a military coup in Guinea-Bissau removed former President Umaro Embalo following a contested election in which both he and the opposition candidate declared themselves victorious, creating constitutional crisis that armed forces resolved through unconstitutional intervention.
Meanwhile, Punchng, citing AFP, revealed that military personnel in Benin on Sunday announced they had ousted President Patrice Talon, although his entourage insisted he was safe and the army was regaining control of the situation. The divergent narratives from mutineers claiming success and government officials asserting control reflected confusion during the critical hours when the outcome remained uncertain.
Soldiers identifying themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR) stated on state television that they had convened and determined that “Mr Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic,” employing formal language suggesting they viewed their action as legitimate governmental transition rather than illegal rebellion against constitutional authority.
The announcement follows two coups in Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau in as many months, demonstrating accelerating democratic backsliding across the African continent. Benin is bordered in the north by Niger and Burkina Faso, which have also experienced military takeovers in recent years, creating a geographic cluster of countries where armed forces have assumed power through unconstitutional means.
The French Embassy communicated via X that “gunfire was reported at Camp Guezo” situated near the president’s official residence in the economic capital. The embassy urged French citizens to remain indoors for security purposes, reflecting concern that violence could escalate or spread beyond immediate confrontation between loyalist forces and mutineers.
However, Talon’s entourage maintained that Talon, who has served as president of the West African nation for ten years and is scheduled to step down in April, remained safe and secure. “This is a small group of people who only control the television. The regular army is regaining control. The city and the country are completely secure,” his office told AFP, attempting to project confidence and minimize the threat posed by the mutineers.
Benin’s political history has been characterized by several coups and attempted coups, particularly during the post-independence decades when military intervention in politics represented common occurrence. The nation’s democratic stability since the early 1990s represented significant achievement in regional context, making Sunday’s events particularly concerning for those who viewed Benin as demonstrating that sustainable democratic governance was achievable in West Africa.
Talon, who assumed power in 2016, is scheduled to reach the conclusion of his second term in 2026, the maximum permitted by the constitution. His relatively brief remaining tenure raises questions about why mutineers acted now rather than awaiting the electoral transition that would occur naturally within months, unless they feared the electoral process would be manipulated or believed immediate action was necessary to prevent some perceived crisis.
The main opposition party has been excluded from the race to succeed him, with the ruling party instead competing for power against a so-called “moderate” opposition. This limitation of genuine opposition participation has generated criticism from democracy advocates who argue the electoral playing field has been tilted dramatically in favor of Talon’s preferred successor.
Talon, a 67-year-old former businessman nicknamed the “cotton king” of Cotonou, has received praise for bringing economic development to Benin but faces regular accusations from critics of authoritarian governance practices. His record combines economic modernization achievements with democratic backsliding concerns, creating mixed legacy as his presidency approaches its constitutional conclusion.
The attempted coup highlights persistent fragility of democratic institutions even in relatively stable West African nations. Despite Benin’s decades-long democratic track record since 1991, the willingness of military personnel to attempt unconstitutional power seizure demonstrates that armed forces remain potential threats to civilian governance when political grievances or personal ambitions motivate intervention.
ECOWAS’s swift condemnation reflects the regional organization’s growing concern about the proliferation of military coups across member states. The bloc has struggled to develop effective deterrence mechanisms, with sanctions and diplomatic isolation proving insufficient to prevent armed forces in multiple countries from overthrowing elected governments. The organization’s pledge to support Benin’s constitutional government “in all forms necessary” suggests potential willingness to consider more aggressive intervention if the situation deteriorates.
The restoration of state television and radio signals represents a critical indicator of governmental control, as access to mass communication platforms provides enormous advantage in shaping public perception during political crises. The mutineers’ brief commandeering of broadcast infrastructure allowed them to project legitimacy and attempt to generate momentum, but their inability to maintain control of these assets suggested lack of broader military support necessary for successful coup execution.
For Benin’s citizens, the hours of uncertainty created fear and disruption as gunfire echoed through normally peaceful neighborhoods and the fate of their government hung in balance. The relatively calm response from the population—with no reports of widespread protests either supporting or opposing the mutiny—may reflect exhaustion with political instability or uncertainty about which faction would ultimately prevail.
The international community’s response beyond ECOWAS will likely prove significant in determining whether additional punitive measures are imposed and whether the coup attempt generates diplomatic consequences for Benin. The African Union and Western governments typically condemn unconstitutional seizures of power, though enforcement mechanisms remain limited and inconsistent across different situations.
As details continue emerging about the coup attempt’s organization, motivation, and the identities of those involved, investigators will seek to determine whether the mutiny represented spontaneous grievance-driven action or carefully planned conspiracy potentially involving external support or coordination. The arrest of 13 soldiers suggests authorities are moving swiftly to identify and detain participants before they can escape or regroup.
The coming days will reveal whether Benin’s democratic institutions can withstand this challenge and proceed with the scheduled electoral transition in April, or whether the attempted coup represents a harbinger of deeper instability that could undermine the nation’s hard-won democratic achievements since the early 1990s.
AP/Punchng
