Benin's interior minister announced on Sunday, December 7, 2025, that an attempted military coup had been foiled. Alassane Seidou stated in a video that a small group of soldiers initiated a mutiny with the objective of destabilizing state institutions. He affirmed that the Beninese Armed Forces and their leadership remained committed to the republic during this situation.
Earlier on the same day, a group of soldiers had appeared on Benin's state television, announcing the dissolution of the government and all state institutions. This group identified itself as the Military Committee for Refoundation and named Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri as its president. Following the military's announcement, signals to state television and public radio were interrupted, and there has been no official communication regarding President Patrice Talon.
Context and Background
President Patrice Talon has been in power since 2016 and was scheduled to conclude his term in April following a presidential election. Romuald Wadagni, the former Finance Minister and the candidate endorsed by President Talon's party, was considered a leading contender in the upcoming election. Opposition candidate Renaud Agbodjo was disqualified by the electoral commission due to insufficient sponsors.
Benin, which gained independence from France in 1960, experienced multiple coups in the decades following independence. The country has maintained political stability since 1991, following the two-decade rule of Mathieu Kérékou. In January, two individuals associated with President Talon received 20-year prison sentences for their alleged involvement in a 2024 coup plot. Last month, the national legislature extended the presidential term from five to seven years, maintaining the two-term limit.
This incident in Benin occurs amidst a series of military takeovers in West Africa. Last month, a military action in Guinea-Bissau resulted in the removal of former President Umaro Embalo after a disputed election.