Benin Says Soldiers Foiled Coup Attempt After Brief Mutiny on State TV

• Dec 07, 2025

Benin’s government says a coup attempt announced early Sunday was stopped by loyal soldiers after a small group of mutinous troops briefly seized the state broadcaster and claimed to have dissolved the government.

Interior Minister Alassane Seidou said in a video posted on Facebook that the group attempted to “destabilize the state and its institutions” in the early hours of December 7, 2025. He praised the Beninese Armed Forces for remaining committed to their oath and acting quickly to counter the mutiny.

Earlier in the day, the situation escalated when armed soldiers appeared on the country’s national television channel. Calling themselves the Military Committee for Refoundation, the group declared that President Patrice Talon had been removed and that all state institutions had been dissolved. They named Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri as the leader of the military committee.

Shortly after the televised announcement, eyewitnesses told the BBC they heard gunfire in Cotonou, and journalists at the state broadcaster were reportedly held hostage as the mutineers attempted to maintain control of the station. The French embassy posted warnings saying gunfire had been heard near the president’s residence, while the Russian embassy urged its citizens to remain indoors for safety.

The U.S. Embassy advised its citizens to avoid the area around the presidential compound as reports of military activity spread. Meanwhile, roads in the city saw increased tension, with images showing vehicles moving past a roadblock near the Saint-Michel junction.

Although there was no direct communication from President Talon during the unrest, a presidential adviser later told the BBC that he was safe and at the French embassy. The signal to the state television and public radio, which had been cut off during the mutiny, was eventually restored. Authorities did not immediately clarify what happened to the soldiers involved in the attempted coup.

Benin, once known for repeated coups after independence from France in 1960, has enjoyed political stability since 1991. The brief mutiny comes just months before Talon was due to step down in April following the presidential election. His party’s preferred candidate, former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, is considered the frontrunner, while opposition figure Renaud Agbodjo was barred from running for not meeting sponsor requirements.

ECOWAS condemned the attempted takeover, calling it an unconstitutional act aimed at undermining the will of Benin’s people. The bloc said it would support the government in defending the constitution and the country’s territorial integrity.

The attempted coup adds to a growing list of military takeovers in West Africa, including last month’s ouster of Guinea-Bissau’s former President Umaro Embalo after a disputed election.