Coup Attempt In Benin Fails As Loyal Forces Regain Control

By Micheal Chukwuebuka

Cotonou, Benin — An attempted coup in the Republic of Benin has been thwarted, government authorities said on Sunday, following a brief seizure of the national television station by mutinous soldiers.

According to the government, a small group of troops — identifying themselves as the Military Committee for Refoundation (CMR) — stormed into the early-morning hours of December 7 and attempted to overthrow the administration of Patrice Talon. After failing to breach the presidential residence, the mutineers turned their attention to the country’s state-run broadcaster, Office de Radiodiffusion et Télévision du Bénin (ORTB), where they announced they had dissolved the government, suspended the constitution and closed Benin’s land, sea and air borders.

Government Forces Swiftly Respond

Within hours, loyalist forces — backed by troops from neighbouring countries — responded decisively, retaking control of the television station and other strategic points in the capital, Cotonou.

In a televised address on Sunday evening, President Talon confirmed that the attempt had failed: “This treachery will not go unpunished.” He praised the armed forces for remaining “loyal and committed to the Republic.”

Interior Minister Alassane Seidou similarly described the mutiny as a destabilisation bid. He affirmed that security forces had regained control and urged citizens to carry on with their lives.

Arrests, But Questions Remain

By Sunday afternoon, at least 14 people — mostly active-duty soldiers — had been arrested in connection with the failed coup.
The putschists had named Pascal Tigri as head of the CMR. Their announcement on TV cited grievances including the deteriorating security situation in northern Benin, alleged neglect of soldiers killed in action, economic hardship, rising taxes, and restrictions on political activity under the current government.

So far, it remains unclear whether Tigri himself has been apprehended. The government has not provided casualty figures, though reports earlier Sunday indicated gunfire near key sites in Cotonou and around the presidential residence.

Regional Context — And What’s Next

The failed coup comes amid a surge of military takeovers and attempted coups across West Africa in recent months, including in neighbouring countries.

The regional bloc Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) denounced the attempt, and some member states reportedly deployed standby forces to support Benin’s government and safeguard constitutional order.

As Benin prepares for a presidential election in April — which will mark the end of Talon’s second term — the government has begun a comprehensive investigation into the motives behind the mutiny, its backers, and whether it represents a wider threat to stability in the country.