Benin's President Patrice Talon addressed the nation on Sunday, declaring that the situation was "totally under control" following a failed coup attempt by a group of soldiers who seized state television and announced the dissolution of the government.
The coup plotters, led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri and calling themselves the "Military Committee for Refoundation," cited deteriorating security in northern Benin, neglect of fallen soldiers and their families, healthcare cuts, tax increases, and political repression as justification for their actions.
The attempted coup began in the early hours of Sunday morning when a group of soldiers hijacked Benin’s state television, declaring the removal of President Talon and the suspension of the constitution.
In response, loyalist forces, supported by air strikes and ground troops from neighboring Nigeria, swiftly recaptured key locations, including the national TV station and a military camp, and arrested 14 individuals, including a previously sacked soldier.
Explosions were heard in Cotonou, the capital, later in the afternoon, believed to be the result of air strikes conducted by Nigeria’s military, which had entered Benin’s airspace at the request of the Benin government to help dislodge the mutineers.
The situation was stabilized by Sunday evening, with the government restoring state media signals and regional forces, including Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Sierra Leone, deployed to support constitutional order.
Nigeria confirmed it sent fighter jets and ground troops to assist in restoring order, with the Nigerian presidency saying the operation was aimed at dislodging the coup plotters from the state TV network and a military camp.
President Talon commended the loyalty of the armed forces and their leaders, expressing condolences to victims and those still held by fleeing mutineers, while vowing that the "treachery will not go unpunished."
The coup attempt occurred amid a broader wave of military takeovers in West Africa, including recent coups in Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea, raising regional stability concerns.
Benin, a former French colony, has been considered one of Africa’s more stable democracies, but President Talon has faced criticism for suppressing dissent, including barring the main opposition candidate from the upcoming April 2026 election and extending legislative terms.
Regional and international bodies, including ECOWAS and the African Union, condemned the coup attempt, with ECOWAS ordering the deployment of a regional standby force to preserve constitutional order and territorial integrity.
The French, Russian, and U.S. embassies issued safety advisories, urging their citizens to remain indoors or avoid Cotonou, especially the area around the presidential compound.
