Failed coup attempt in Bénin: what we know about the unrest in Cotonou

Tensions flared in Cotonou, the economic heart of Bénin, this Sunday morning following a bold attempt by military elements to seize power. While soldiers appeared on national television to declare the removal of President Patrice Talon, the government was quick to announce that the insurrection had been successfully suppressed.

Early on Sunday, the capital echoed with gunfire as a group of eight armed soldiers, identifying themselves as the “Comité militaire pour la refondation” (CMR), took over the airwaves of the state broadcaster. Wearing various military berets and carrying assault rifles, they proclaimed that a lieutenant-colonel had been installed as the new head of the CMR, effectively replacing Patrice Talon.

The motives behind the uprising

The mutineers justified their actions by citing a “continuous decline in security” in the northern regions of Bénin, where jihadist violence has been a growing concern. They further alleged that soldiers killed in action were being neglected, their families abandoned, and that military promotions were being handled unfairly. Additionally, the group accused the current administration of subtly eroding fundamental civil liberties and presented a list of social demands.

During the peak of the unrest, military blockades were established around the presidential palace and the national television headquarters. Key areas of Cotonou, including the Sofitel hotel district and zones housing international organizations, were cordoned off. Despite the visible military presence in these strategic locations, life in much of the city appeared to remain relatively normal for many residents.

Government reasserts authority

The Bénin Minister of the Interior, Alassane Seidou, later addressed the nation to confirm that the regular armed forces had remained loyal to the state. He stated that their swift intervention had neutralized the threat and restored order. According to Seidou, the coup attempt was the work of a small isolated group that managed to occupy the television station briefly, but the capital and the rest of the country are now fully secured.

Reports indicate that approximately twelve military personnel, including the primary organizers of the plot, have been taken into custody.

Patrice Talon and the political landscape

Sources close to the presidency confirmed early on that Patrice Talon was safe and that loyalist troops never lost control of his private residence or the presidential offices. Talon, who has led Bénin through a period of significant economic growth, is nearing the end of his second term. He is expected to step down in April 2026, as the constitution prohibits a third mandate.

While Talon is credited with modernizing the economy, his presidency has faced criticism for an increasingly authoritarian approach, which some say has weakened Bénin‘s reputation as a stable democracy in West Africa.

International condemnation

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) issued a strong statement condemning the unconstitutional move, describing it as a subversion of the will of the Bénin people. Similarly, the African Union (UA) expressed its firm opposition to the power grab. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the UA Commission, urged all involved to cease illegal activities and return to their military duties immediately.

A history of instability in the region

Bénin has a complex political history marked by several coups in the 1960s, involving figures like Christophe Soglo, Émile Derlin Zinsou, and Paul Emile de Souza. More recently, the Talon administration has faced other reported plots in 2020 and September 2024.

This latest incident follows a troubling trend across West Africa, which has seen a series of military takeovers since 2020 in countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Guinée, and Guinée-Bissau.