A brazen but short-lived coup attempt has sent shockwaves through Benin’s political landscape. Early on Sunday, December 7, 2025, a faction of mutinous soldiers briefly seized control of the national broadcaster, SRTB, in Cotonou, declaring they had removed President Patrice Talon from power. The 67-year-old leader, set to conclude his second term in April 2026, was swiftly secured as loyalist forces reclaimed key installations. Security sources reported that the insurgents first targeted the president’s private residence in the Guézo district before being repelled. By mid-morning, Cotonou was under heavy surveillance, with helicopters patrolling overhead and patrols sweeping the streets as the situation gradually stabilized.
government response and casualties
In a televised address that evening, President Talon condemned the uprising as a grave betrayal, vowing that those responsible would face justice. He also revealed that several individuals, including some still held by fleeing mutineers, remained at risk, underscoring the urgent need to restore full security and protect civilians.
The toll included the death of the wife of General Bertin Bada, the president’s military chief of staff, who was killed during the assault on their home in Abomey-Calavi. Their daughter was also injured in the attack. Security agencies have since confirmed the arrest of at least a dozen soldiers, including the alleged ringleaders and a former army member.
mutineers’ claims and failed takeover
According to official accounts, the mutiny began at dawn when a small group of soldiers, reportedly backed by external mercenaries, launched coordinated strikes on high-ranking officials’ residences before advancing toward the presidential palace and television station. On air, the insurgents announced the formation of a Military Committee for Refoundation, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Pascal Tigri, and declared President Talon deposed—just months before the end of his constitutional mandate.
Tigri accused the administration of exclusionary governance, citing alleged suppression of voter rights, enactment of contentious laws, forced exile of citizens, and widespread arrests. The mutineers suspended the Constitution, claiming the military would temporarily assume all state powers.
rapid counteraction and international support
Foreign missions reacted swiftly: the U.S. Embassy issued a security alert for American citizens in the Guézo district, where gunfire was reported, while the French Embassy urged its nationals to exercise caution. Within hours, loyalist forces launched a decisive counteroffensive, securing strategic sites around the presidential marina and locking down major roads in Cotonou. Helicopters patrolled the skies as access to key areas was restricted.
The Beninese government requested assistance from Nigeria, whose air force and ground troops were deployed to retake the television station and a captured military camp. The coordinated response underscored regional solidarity in upholding constitutional order.
social media chaos and public unease
For hours, misinformation spread unchecked across social platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and WhatsApp, amplifying confusion as authorities delayed public statements. By afternoon, gunfire had subsided, and police units occupied major intersections in the city center. Residents described a tense calm, with many still unclear about the events unfolding.
Once regarded as a bastion of stability in West Africa, Benin now finds itself grappling with the fallout of this failed coup—one that follows recent military takeovers in Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar, and amid ongoing instability in neighboring Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea.
regional condemnation and troop deployment
The African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) swiftly condemned the coup attempt. The AU’s Chairperson, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, demanded an immediate end to all illegal actions and the return of military personnel to their duties. ECOWAS announced the immediate deployment of standby forces from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana to support Benin’s government and republican army in safeguarding constitutional governance.
tensions ahead of presidential elections
With the presidential election just months away, President Talon’s tenure ends in April 2026 as mandated by the Constitution. His ruling coalition, the Republican Bloc (BR) and UP-R, has already named Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni as its candidate to continue their decade-long economic policies. However, a recent constitutional amendment—creating a Senate and extending presidential and legislative terms to seven years—has sparked fierce debate and criticism. The disqualification of the main opposition leader further intensified political friction, despite the two-term limit remaining intact.
The failed coup has raised questions about deeper military and political divisions. While the immediate threat has been neutralized, the episode has exposed vulnerabilities in Benin’s democratic resilience as it prepares for a pivotal electoral transition.
