Benin’s government says it has foiled an attempted military coup after mutinous soldiers launched coordinated attacks early Sunday in an effort to overthrow President Patrice Talon. By late evening, authorities reported that loyalist forces had regained control of key state institutions, with around a dozen soldiers arrested, including alleged ringleaders.
According to military and security sources, at least 13 suspects have been detained. All but one are serving members of the armed forces; the remaining detainee is a former soldier.
Interior Minister Alassane Seidou announced that a “small group of soldiers launched a mutiny with the aim of destabilising the country and its institutions,” but said the military hierarchy had “maintained control of the situation and foiled the attempt.”
Dramatic Morning Assault and Seizure of State TV
The coup attempt began before dawn on Sunday. Mutineers attacked President Talon’s residence in Cotonou—an assault that loyalist forces successfully repelled. Soon after, a group led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri stormed the state-run broadcaster ORTB, briefly seizing the national signal.
Appearing on air, the soldiers announced that Talon had been “removed from office,” declared all state institutions dissolved, and suspended the constitution, claiming they sought “a truly new era, where fraternity, justice and work prevail.”
Government officials insist the mutineers never gained control beyond the television station. “This is a small group of people who only control the television,” a presidential spokesman said. “The regular army is regaining control. The city and the country are completely secure.”
Security Response and Nigeria’s Withdrawal of Surveillance Aircraft
Throughout the day, loyalist units—including the National Guard—encircled the ORTB compound and secured strategic installations in the capital. Negotiations with the mutineers reportedly continued into the evening.
Nigeria, which earlier deployed a fighter aircraft from Lagos for regional monitoring, withdrew it after assessing the situation had “stabilised” and no immediate threat remained to its borders, according to security sources.
Despite pockets of tension, Cotonou remained largely calm. Access to the presidency, state television, and several key districts was restricted, though the airport and most of the city functioned normally.
President Talon ‘Safe,’ Yet Silent
President Patrice Talon, 67, has been confirmed safe by his office, though his exact location has not been disclosed. Talon, a former businessman known as the “cotton king of Cotonou,” has governed since 2016 and is set to leave office in April next year after completing his second term.
His decade in power has delivered economic growth but drawn criticism over alleged authoritarian tendencies. His preferred successor, former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, is considered the frontrunner for the 2026 election, while opposition candidate Renaud Agbodjo was recently disqualified for lacking required sponsors. Last month, lawmakers extended the presidential term from five to seven years while preserving the two-term limit.
Regional and International Condemnation
The coup attempt drew swift condemnation from West African and continental organisations.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) denounced the attempted takeover and expressed support for efforts to restore order.
The African Union (AU) called the mutiny “strongly and unequivocally” unacceptable. AU Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Yousouf warned that the proliferation of coups in parts of Africa threatens democratic progress and regional stability. He reaffirmed the AU’s zero-tolerance policy toward unconstitutional changes of government and pledged support for President Talon and the people of Benin.
Sunday’s events mark the third coup attempt in Africa in just three months, following recent upheavals in Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. Benin—bordered by Burkina Faso and Niger, both under military rule—had long been considered relatively stable after a turbulent post-independence era marked by coups until 1991.
‘Clean-Up Progressing Well’
A military source told AFP that the “clean-up is progressing well” and that it is only a matter of time before “everything returns to normal.” As of Sunday night, loyalist forces were continuing operations in and around Cotonou, while authorities prepared a full statement on the identities and motives of the coup plotters.
Despite the attempted overthrow, officials say the situation is now fully under control and that Benin’s constitutional order has been preserved.
