BY Daniel Bampoe
Benin has been thrown into political chaos following a dramatic military announcement declaring the removal of President Patrice Talon from office.
In a televised broadcast on Sunday, a group of soldiers identifying themselves as the Military Committee for Refoundation (CMR) said they had taken control of the government and dissolved all state institutions, marking the latest addition to a troubling wave of coups sweeping across West Africa.
The soldiers—who appeared on Benin’s state television—declared that President Talon “is removed from office as president of the republic,” effectively signalling the end of his administration.
They did not provide details on his whereabouts, the condition of members of his cabinet, or whether they currently have custody of government officials. As of press time, the fate of President Talon and his ministers remains unknown.
The unfolding military takeover comes against a backdrop of rising gunfire in the capital.
The French Embassy in Cotonou announced via the social media platform X that shots were heard at Camp Guezo, a military installation located close to the president’s official residence, raising fears of armed confrontation between loyalist and rebel forces.
This marks a serious escalation in Benin’s political landscape, long considered one of West Africa’s more stable democracies.
Since taking office in 2016, President Talon had embarked on major political and economic reforms—many of which drew criticism from opposition groups who accused him of authoritarian tendencies, restrictive electoral laws, and the stifling of political dissent.
Tensions had simmered in the country for years, especially following disputed parliamentary elections and crackdowns on opposition figures.
The apparent coup in Benin also deepens concerns about regional instability. It comes barely two weeks after a coup in Guinea-Bissau, further prolonging the cycle of military interventions in West Africa.
Over the last four years, the region has witnessed a series of coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Niger, each driven by varying combinations of insecurity, political discontent, and accusations of weak governance.
