Military coup attempt in Benin: president claims control remains intact
A group of soldiers announced on Sunday morning via Benin’s public television they had “removed from office” President Patrice Talon, though his inner circle and military officials swiftly denied the claim, asserting government control had been restored.
- Updated on Sunday, December 7, 2025
Benin’s President Patrice Talon was scheduled to step down after completing his second term in April 2026, following elections that had been set for April of that year. The nation, known for its stable economic growth, has faced challenges from jihadist violence in its northern regions.
West Africa has experienced a wave of military takeovers since 2020, affecting countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Guinea, and most recently, Guinea-Bissau in late November.
On Sunday, a faction of soldiers identifying themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR) claimed on Benin’s state television that they had deposed President Patrice Talon. Shortly after, the television signal was interrupted.
Within minutes of the announcement, a source close to the president told AFP that Talon was safe and that regular army forces had regained control of the situation.
“This is merely a small group attempting to seize control of the television broadcast. The legitimate army has taken charge. Cotonou and the entire country remain fully secure,” the source stated.
The French Embassy in Benin reported on X (formerly Twitter) that gunfire had been heard near the president’s residence in Cotonou and advised French citizens to remain indoors as a precaution.
A military official confirmed the situation was “under control,” with the coup plotters having failed to seize either the president’s residence or the presidential palace.
“It’s only a matter of time before everything returns to normal. Operations to restore order are proceeding as planned,” the official added.
Benin’s political history has been marked by multiple coups and attempted coups. Patrice Talon, who has been in office since 2016, was due to complete his second term in 2026, the maximum allowed by the constitution.
The country’s main opposition party has been excluded from the upcoming presidential election, which will feature the ruling party and a self-described “moderate” opposition candidate.
While Talon is credited with driving Benin’s economic progress, critics accuse him of steering the nation toward authoritarianism, despite its past reputation as a vibrant democracy.
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