BY Issah Olegor
Benin’s government says it has successfully suppressed an attempted coup after a faction of soldiers stormed national television, announced the suspension of the constitution, and claimed to have removed President Patrice Talon from power.
The dramatic events, which unfolded early Sunday morning, thrust one of West Africa’s most stable democracies into crisis before loyal armed forces moved swiftly to regain control.
Interior Minister Alassane Seidou, in a televised national address, confirmed that the uprising had been contained.
He described the plot as a mutiny by “a small group of soldiers” who sought to destabilise state institutions, adding that the majority of the Beninese military remained loyal to the republic and acted decisively to protect constitutional order.
Rebel Broadcast and Gunfire Near Presidential Residence
The coup attempt began when a group of heavily armed soldiers appeared live on state broadcaster BTV, announcing the dissolution of institutions and asserting the removal of President Talon.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing intense gunfire around the presidential residence as security forces mobilised to counter the rebellion.
During the takeover, some journalists working at the state broadcaster were reportedly held hostage for several hours by the mutineers.
A senior presidential adviser later told the BBC that President Talon was moved to a secure location and remained unharmed.
French diplomats dismissed earlier rumours that the president had sought refuge at the French Embassy in Cotonou.
Arrests and Military Response
Government spokesperson Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji confirmed to Reuters that 14 suspects have been arrested in connection with the attempted coup.
According to sources within Benin’s media, at least 12 of those arrested were directly involved in storming the national television station—one of them a dismissed soldier.
Throughout Sunday morning, helicopters hovered over Cotonou while key roads were blocked by armoured vehicles. Embassies, including those of France, Russia, and the United States, issued urgent advisories for their nationals to remain indoors or avoid areas surrounding the presidential compound.
Grievances Cited by Coup Plotters
The coup was reportedly led by Lt Col Pascal Tigri, who accused President Talon of mismanaging the country and failing to address growing insecurity in northern Benin.
Over the last few years, Benin’s military has suffered multiple casualties near its borders with Burkina Faso and Niger, where jihadist groups linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda have staged increasingly violent attacks.
In their televised statement, the rebels condemned the government’s alleged neglect of fallen soldiers and their families. They also criticised rising taxes, cuts in healthcare—including the controversial cancellation of state-funded dialysis—and restrictions on political activities.
Political Backdrop: Talon’s Legacy and Rising Tensions
President Patrice Talon, a wealthy businessman known as the “king of cotton,” came to power in 2016 and is serving his second and final term. Although praised for economic reforms and infrastructure development, his administration has faced mounting accusations of authoritarianism, shrinking civil liberties, and the suppression of opposition voices.
In October, the electoral commission barred the main opposition presidential candidate over sponsorship technicalities.
The following month, parliament passed constitutional amendments extending terms of elected officials and creating a second legislative chamber. The presidential two-term limit, however, was preserved.
Elections are scheduled for April 2026, and Talon has publicly endorsed Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni as his preferred successor.
Regional Context: A Continent Battling Waves of Coups
The failed coup in Benin comes barely a week after the overthrow of Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, a takeover that some regional observers believe may have been staged.
Over the past five years, West Africa has been rattled by a succession of coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Niger, pushing regional security to its lowest point in decades.
Russia has deepened ties with several of these military-led states, particularly within the Sahel bloc that recently withdrew from ECOWAS to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
News of the Benin attempt was quickly amplified by several pro-Russian online accounts, according to BBC Monitoring, underscoring the geopolitical battle for influence in West Africa.
International Condemnation Mounts
Both ECOWAS and the African Union condemned the attempted takeover. AU Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Yousouf reiterated the continent’s “zero tolerance” policy toward unconstitutional changes of government.
Nigeria, Benin’s influential neighbour, described the events as a “direct assault on democracy” and praised Beninese security forces for safeguarding President Talon and the constitutional order.
