Benin, often held up as one of West Africa’s more stable democracies, was abruptly jolted this weekend by an attempted military coup that briefly claimed to have toppled President Patrice Talon — before loyal forces moved in, the plotters scattered, and the government reasserted control.
What Happened in Benin?
In the early hours of December 7, soldiers from Benin’s
National Guard launched a coordinated attack in the economic capital
Cotonou, targeting President Talon’s residence and key strategic sites.
According to multiple reports and official statements, here’s how it unfolded:
-
Talon’s residence in Cotonou came under attack.
- Troops seized the
national broadcaster and took several journalists hostage.
- Eight soldiers appeared on
state television, declaring Talon “removed from office,” suspending the constitution, closing borders, and announcing a new junta called the
Military Committee for Refoundation, led by
Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri.
- Gunfire and explosions were reported near
Camp Guezo, close to the president’s home, with military vehicles racing down key boulevards in the capital.
For a few tense hours, it looked like Benin might be the latest domino to fall in West Africa’s recent wave of coups.
How the Coup Was Thwarted
The government moved quickly to project control.
Benin’s interior minister
Alassane Seidou announced that the attempted coup had been
“thwarted” by the Benin Armed Forces by late morning on December 7. He said loyalist troops had suppressed the mutiny and were hunting down remaining plotters.
Key details from authorities and regional media:
- At least
14 people were arrested, including
12 active-duty soldiers.
- A group of 12 suspects is believed to have directly participated in the attack on state TV.
- Coup leader
Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri and several of his men remained on the run by the evening of December 7.
- Government officials repeatedly said the situation was “under control,” even as sporadic clashes continued.
In his first public comments after the events, President
Patrice Talon condemned the attempted takeover and praised the army for stopping it, according to footage carried by the Associated Press and other broadcasters. Local reporting and diplomatic sources indicated that Talon was safe, with one presidential adviser telling the BBC he had taken refuge at the
French embassy in Cotonou during the height of the crisis.
Why the Plotters Said They Struck
On state television, the putschists tried to justify their move with a laundry list of grievances against Talon’s rule. Among the reasons they cited:
- Alleged
mismanagement of the country by the president
-
Favoritism in the military hierarchy
- Neglect of soldiers killed on duty and their families
- A
deteriorating security situation in northern Benin, where jihadist-linked violence has been on the rise
-
Cuts to healthcare, higher taxes, and tighter
restrictions on political activityThese themes echo a broader pattern seen in recent coups across the Sahel and West Africa, where militaries have repeatedly justified their actions by pointing to insecurity, corruption, and unpopular economic policies.
Regional and International Reaction
The attempted coup drew swift condemnation across the region.
-
ECOWAS, West Africa’s main regional bloc, denounced the putsch and later announced the deployment of
Nigerian, Sierra Leonean, Ivorian, and Ghanaian troops to help Benin’s government “repel the putschists,” including Nigerian Air Force support against rebels holed up at
Togbin military camp.
- The
African Union also condemned the attempt to overthrow Benin’s constitutional order.
- Neighboring
Nigeria called it a “direct assault on democracy” and praised Beninese security forces for defending the elected government.
At the same time, some fringe political voices backed the plotters. Pro-Russian activist and presidential hopeful
Kémi Séba publicly expressed support for the coup while it was underway, underscoring how external ideological battles — from pro-Russian narratives to anti-Western sentiment — are increasingly bleeding into West African politics.
The Bigger Picture: Benin’s Democracy Under Strain
On paper, Benin has been one of the region’s democratic bright spots, but tensions have been building beneath the surface.
A few key political and security context points:
- President
Patrice Talon has been in power since 2016 and was due to leave office after
elections scheduled for April 2026.
- In
January 2025, two of Talon’s close associates were sentenced to
20 years in prison over an alleged 2024 coup plot, raising opposition concerns about politicized justice.
- The government has faced criticism over
restrictions on opposition parties and political activity, part of what critics say is a gradual democratic backslide.
- In northern Benin, militant activity linked to Sahel-based jihadist groups has been creeping southward, putting new pressure on the army and fueling public anxiety about security.
Seen against this backdrop, the December coup attempt looks less like an isolated outburst and more like a symptom of accumulated frustration within parts of the security forces and segments of the population.
What This Means for Benin — and West Africa
This failed putsch adds Benin’s name to a growing list of African states rocked by coups or attempted coups in recent years — from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to Guinea-Bissau just days earlier.
A few likely implications:
-
Security first politics: Talon’s government may double down on loyalty checks within the military and expand security powers, risking further alienation of opponents and dissenting officers.
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Regional muscle-flexing: ECOWAS, criticized for its uneven response to previous coups, has a chance here to show it can still meaningfully defend elected governments — but external deployments also carry the risk of backlash and nationalist blowback.
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Heightened political tension ahead of 2026 elections: With the clock ticking toward the planned presidential vote, the question is whether authorities respond with
dialogue and reforms or more
repression and prosecutions of alleged conspirators.
-
Investor and public confidence: Even a failed coup can spook investors, shake public trust, and strain already fragile economies — especially in a country positioning itself as a relatively safe hub in a turbulent region.
From a journalist’s perspective, what’s striking is not just that another coup was attempted — but that in Benin, unlike in several of its neighbors, the armed forces
did not fracture completely, and the chain of command (at least for now) held firm on the side of the constitutional order.
Whether that remains true as the fallout spreads — court cases, purges, political blame games — will determine if this was a one-night shock or the opening act of a deeper crisis.
What to Watch Next
For readers tracking Benin and West Africa, here are the key things to keep an eye on in the coming days and weeks:
-
Arrests and trials: How many officers and civilians are ultimately charged, and whether proceedings are transparent or seen as political score-settling.
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Fate of Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri: If and when the alleged coup leader is captured, his testimony could shed light on how deep the conspiracy ran inside the army.
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Reforms vs. repression: Any moves by Talon’s government on military reform, political liberalization, or social policies — or, alternatively, new restrictions and security crackdowns.
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ECOWAS posture: Whether the bloc’s troop deployment to assist Benin becomes a short, symbolic gesture or evolves into a longer-term security presence.
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Opposition and civil society response: How activists, opposition parties, and religious leaders frame the coup attempt — as a warning sign to the government, a criminal act, or both — and whether they push harder for political reforms before 2026.
For now, the official line is clear:
the coup failed, Talon stays, and order is restored.
The deeper question is whether Benin can use this close call as a wake-up call — to address the grievances that soldiers with guns just tried to force onto the national agenda.
Sources
1. 2025 Beninese coup attempt - Wikipedia
2. Benin President Patrice Talon condemns foiled coup bid - YouTube
3. Benin President Says Government 'Thwarted' Coup Attempt By ...
4. Benin is the latest African country to experience a coup. Here is a ...
