President Talon’s office states that he is safe and that large part of army had remained ‘loyalist’.
7th December, 2025
Benin’s Interior Minister Alassane Seidou has said that Benin’s armed forces have thwarted an attempted coup in the West African nation.
“A small group of soldiers launched a mutiny with the aim of destabilising the country and its institutions,” said Seidou early on Sunday.
“Faced with this situation, the Beninese Armed Forces and their leadership maintained control of the situation and foiled the attempt,” he added.About a dozen soldiers were arrested on Sunday evening, the AFP news agency quoted military and security sources as saying.
One source told the agency that 13 arrests had been made, with another saying that all the detainees were soldiers in active service except one who was ex-military.
Earlier, Benin’s government said loyalist soldiers and national guard had regained control after a group of soldiers announced on state television that they had seized power in an apparent coup attempt.
Foreign Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari said on Sunday that the coup plotters had taken control of state TV only and that the signal had been cut for several minutes.
“There is an attempt, but the situation is under control. Now it’s a small group of military. A large part of the army is still loyalist, and we are taking over the situation,” Bakari told the Reuters news agency
A group of at least eight soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri had appeared on screen to claim the overthrow of President Patrice Talon, who has been in power since 2016, as well as all state institutions. They also claimed that the country’s borders had been closed and that all political parties had been suspended.
The troops referred to themselves as part of the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR).
“The army solemnly commits to give the Beninese people the hope of a truly new era, where fraternity, justice and work prevail,” said a statement read by one of the soldiers.
After the takeover attempt, the president’s office had stated that Talon was safe and that the army was gradually regaining control, according to the AFP news agency.
“This is a small group of people who only control the television,” the presidency told AFP.
“The regular army is regaining control. The city and the country are completely secure,” it said.
The French embassy said at the time of the state TV takeover that “gunfire was reported at Camp Guezo” near the president’s official residence in Cotonou, the country’s largest city.
An AFP journalist in Cotonou reported that soldiers were blocking access to the presidency and state television, as well as a five-star hotel and districts housing international institutions. But there was no military presence at the airport and the remainder of the city, and residents were going about their business, the agency reported.
The Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) said in a statement that it strongly condemned the attempted military coup and would support efforts by the government to restore order.
The African Union (AU) also issued a condemnation the attempt, its chairperson Mahmoud Ali Yousouf stating that the bloc “strongly and unequivocally condemns” it.His statement also reaffirmed the AU’s support to Talon.
“The African Union stands ready, in coordination with regional and international partners, to accompany the Government and People of Benin toward the full restoration of constitutional normalcy and the strengthening of democratic institutions.
”Talon is due to step down next April after 10 years in power.
