Benin Government Restores Control After Short-Lived Military Coup Attempt

Benin’s government says an attempted coup announced on state television early Sunday has been stopped, according to Interior Minister Alassane Seidou.

In a video posted on Facebook, Seidou said a “small group of soldiers” tried to destabilize the state in the early hours of December 7, 2025. He added that the armed forces remained loyal to the republic and acted quickly to contain the situation.

Earlier in the day, a group of soldiers appeared on Benin’s state broadcaster and claimed they had dissolved the government. They described themselves as the Military Committee for Refoundation, announced the removal of the President and named Lt Col Pascal Tigri as head of the committee.

There has been no official update on President Talon’s status after gunfire was reported near the presidential residence. State television and public radio, which were briefly taken off-air, have since been restored.

Part of a wider pattern in West Africa

The attempted takeover comes amid a wave of military interventions across West Africa. Just last month, Guinea-Bissau’s former President Umaro Embalo was ousted after a disputed election.

ECOWAS condemned the Benin incident, calling it an unconstitutional act and pledging support to protect the country’s constitution and territorial integrity.

Talon, who has been in office since 2016, was expected to leave office next April after the presidential election. His party’s preferred successor, former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, is widely seen as the frontrunner. Opposition candidate Renaud Agbodjo was recently disqualified for lacking the required sponsorships.

Benin’s parliament voted last month to extend presidential terms from five to seven years while keeping the two-term limit.

The country has a long history of coups following independence from France in 1960, though it has maintained political stability since 1991. Earlier this year, two allies of President Talon received 20-year prison sentences linked to an alleged plot to overthrow the government in 2024.