The government of the Federal Republic of Benin said on Sunday that the attempted coup by a group of soldiers had been thwarted.
A group of soldiers, led by Lt-Col Pascal Tigri, had appeared on state television and announced that they had removed President Patrice Talon from office and suspended the constitution.
The country’s interior minister, Alassane Seidou, said Beninese armed forces responded swiftly and foiled the attempt by the renegade soldiers.
“Early on Sunday morning, 7 December 2025, a small group of soldiers launched a mutiny aimed at destabilising the state and its institutions,” Seidou said.
“Faced with this situation, the Beninese armed forces and their leadership, true to their oath, remained committed to the republic. Their response allowed them to retain control of the situation and foil the attempt,” he added.
The interior Minister allayed the fears of instability and urged the people to go about their normal activities.
Seidou, who described the soldiers’ action as “a mutiny” aimed at destabilizing the country, said the situation is under control.
Talon, a 67-year-old former businessman, is due to hand over power in April next year after 10 years in office.
The eight soldiers who called themselves the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR), declared one lieutenant colonel “president of the CMR”.
The soldiers claimed that their action was in response to rising insecurity in the northern part of the country. They also alleged neglect of soldiers killed in active service and unjust promotion of some personnel while ignoring those who qualified.
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An AFP report said President Talon is safe and secure, adding that the coup plotters had not taken over either his residence or the presidential offices.
While access to some parts of the country had been blocked, the airport was still free, according to an AFP report.
Benin would have been the fifth West African country to come under military rule in recent years after Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea-Bissau. The Military takeover in Guinea-Bissau occurred last month, shortly before the presidential election was concluded, raising concerns about the fate of democracy in the West African region.
The West African country had recorded several coups and attempted coups since its independence from France in 1960.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in Mass Communication. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X
