In a dramatic turn of events on December 7, 2025, the West African nation of Benin narrowly averted a coup attempt that briefly threatened to upend its reputation as a bastion of stability in a region increasingly beset by military takeovers. The attempted power grab, led by a group of soldiers under the command of Colonel Pascal Tigri, unfolded in the early hours of Sunday when at least eight armed men stormed Benin’s national television station.
Appearing live on air, the soldiers announced the formation of what they called the Military Committee for Refoundation. In a statement read out to viewers, one of the soldiers declared, "The army solemnly commits to give the Beninese people the hope of a truly new era, where fraternity, justice and work prevail." They claimed to have dissolved national institutions, suspended the constitution, and closed all air, land, and maritime borders. For a few tense minutes, it seemed as though the fate of Benin hung in the balance.
But the broadcast was abruptly cut short, and, according to Benin’s foreign minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, the mutineers only managed to take control of the state TV station for a brief period before loyal security forces restored order. "They only took control of state TV, and the signal was cut after several minutes," Bakari told Reuters. "There is an attempt, but the situation is under control."
The attempted coup, though contained in minutes, sent shockwaves through Benin’s capital, Cotonou. Gunfire erupted in several neighborhoods as residents tried to make their way to church on Sunday morning. The French embassy reported gunfire near President Patrice Talon's residence and urged its citizens to remain indoors. By early afternoon, police had been deployed at major intersections in the city center, and the gunfire had died down, according to witnesses. Narcisse, a local furniture salesman, described the morning’s chaos: "I got scared and brought my sofas inside and closed. It's a bit calmer now, which is why I reopened."
Interior Minister Alassane Seidou announced later that day that the armed forces had thwarted the coup, reassuring citizens: "Therefore, the government urges the population to go about their business as usual." By Sunday afternoon, government spokesperson Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji confirmed that 14 people had been arrested in connection with the plot. Details about the detainees were not immediately provided, but the swift response of Benin’s security forces was widely praised.
The coup attempt comes at a particularly sensitive moment for Benin. The country is preparing for a presidential election in April 2026, which will mark the end of President Talon’s tenure after nearly a decade in office. Talon, credited with reviving Benin’s economy, has also faced criticism for tightening his grip on power. Just last month, Benin adopted a new constitution that extends the presidential mandate from five to seven years and creates a Senate—a move critics have described as a power grab by the ruling coalition. The opposition Democrats party, founded by Talon’s predecessor Thomas Boni Yayi, saw its own proposed candidate rejected by the courts for insufficient backing from lawmakers.
The soldiers behind the coup cited the deteriorating security situation in northern Benin and what they described as the neglect of fallen soldiers as reasons for their actions. In April, the government reported that 54 soldiers were killed in the north by militants affiliated with Al Qaeda, underscoring the rising threat of jihadist violence that has already destabilized neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger.
The failed coup attempt in Benin is the latest in a series of military interventions across West Africa in recent years. Since 2020, the region has witnessed successful or attempted coups in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and, most recently, Guinea-Bissau. According to India Today, these developments have raised alarms about the fragility of democratic governance in a region where militaries have increasingly asserted themselves amid security crises and political discontent.
International condemnation of the coup attempt was swift and unequivocal. West Africa’s regional bloc ECOWAS and the African Union both issued statements denouncing the bid to seize power by force. Nigeria, Benin’s influential neighbor and a leading voice in the region, responded with a firm statement of its own. The Nigerian government said it had received the news "with grave concern" and "unequivocally condemns in the strongest possible terms the attempted forcible seizure of power" in what it called its "friendly neighbour and brotherly nation." The statement, issued by spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebenfa of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, warned that any unconstitutional change of government is "an unacceptable and retrogressive step" that threatens democratic gains across West Africa.
Nigeria further commended the actions of Benin’s security forces, stating, "We commend the courage and professionalism of the Beninese security forces in defending the constitutional order and guaranteeing the safety of the President." The statement went on to urge all parties in Benin to remain calm, uphold the rule of law, and channel political discourse through peaceful and democratic means. "The Federal Government of Nigeria reassures the Government of the Republic of Benin of its full support and continued cooperation as we work together, as brothers and partners, to deepen democracy and ensure lasting peace and prosperity for our peoples and the entire West African region."
Benin’s government has since sought to reassure both its citizens and the international community that order has been restored. Foreign Minister Bakari emphasized that the situation was under control and that loyalist forces had acted swiftly to contain the threat. Authorities in Cotonou have insisted that daily life can return to normal, but the incident has served as a stark reminder that no country in the region is immune to the ripple effects of instability sweeping across West Africa.
Benin has a history of coups and attempted coups in the decades following independence from France in 1960. However, since the advent of multi-party elections in 1991, it has largely enjoyed a reputation for stability and democratic governance. The events of December 7, 2025, mark the first forceful bid for power in more than three decades, highlighting the underlying tensions that persist even in relatively stable nations.
Regional and international observers will be watching closely as Benin prepares for its upcoming elections. The attempted coup, though quickly suppressed, has exposed vulnerabilities and raised questions about the resilience of its democratic institutions. For now, the government’s rapid response and the widespread condemnation from both domestic and international actors have helped avert a deeper crisis. But as recent history in West Africa has shown, the path to lasting stability is rarely straightforward.
