Benin’s President Patrice Talon has expressed deep gratitude to the country’s armed forces after they successfully thwarted an attempted military coup that briefly plunged the West African nation into uncertainty. Addressing the nation on Sunday evening, Talon praised army leaders for their loyalty and professionalism while vowing that the mutineers behind the uprising would face justice.
The dramatic events unfolded early Sunday morning when a group of soldiers identifying themselves as the Military Committee for Refoundation seized control of state television. In a televised announcement, the group declared that the government had been dissolved, raising fears of another political upheaval in a region that has seen repeated military takeovers in recent years.
However, the attempt was short-lived. Hours later, the Minister of Interior announced that security forces had swiftly regained control and suppressed the uprising. State institutions, which briefly ceased operations due to the disruption of the national broadcaster, gradually resumed normal activity as calm returned to the capital, Cotonou.
In his national address, Talon spoke firmly and emotionally, praising the commitment of loyal soldiers who he said acted quickly to prevent the mutineers from destabilizing the nation. “I would like to commend the sense of duty of our army and its leaders who remained republican and loyal to the nation. With them, we stood firm, recaptured our positions, and cleared the last pockets of resistance from the mutants,” Talon said.
He condemned the attempted coup as an act of treachery that threatened the nation’s peace and constitutional stability. Talon vowed that those responsible would be held accountable. “This commitment and mobilisation allowed us to thwart these adventurers and save our country. This treachery will not go unpunished.”
The president also acknowledged that the incident had led to casualties and distress. Without giving specific figures, he expressed condolences to the families of those affected and promised full efforts to rescue individuals believed to have been taken captive by fleeing mutineers. “Everything will be done to find them safe and sound,” he assured the nation.
Local media reports indicate that thirteen soldiers have been arrested so far. There is, however, no confirmation on whether Lt Col Pascal Tigri, who is widely believed to be the leader of the attempted coup, was among those captured. Security operations continue as authorities work to locate individuals who escaped during the crackdown.
Throughout Sunday, gunfire was heard in parts of Cotonou, and armed soldiers were seen patrolling strategic points across the city. Despite early signs of tension, the general atmosphere remained relatively calm as residents followed the unfolding events through restored broadcast signals. By evening, state television and national radio, whose signals had been cut during the takeover, were fully back on air.
The attempted coup in Benin is the latest in a troubling wave of military interventions and attempted takeovers across West Africa. The region has been grappling with political instability, including successful coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and most recently Guinea-Bissau, where a contested election led to the removal of former President Umaro Embalo.
The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, condemned the attempted coup in Benin, describing it as “a subversion of the will of the people.” The regional bloc also revealed that it had approved the deployment of troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Ghana to support Benin’s military in safeguarding constitutional order. ECOWAS emphasised the need to protect the territorial integrity of Benin and to reinforce the region’s collective stance against unconstitutional changes of government.
Nigeria played a particularly significant role in the restoration of order. President Bola Tinubu, who currently chairs ECOWAS, praised the Nigerian armed forces for their prompt response to Benin’s request for assistance. According to Nigerian government spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, Benin formally requested both air and ground military support as loyal forces worked to reclaim state institutions. “It took some hours before the government’s loyal forces, assisted by Nigeria, took control and flushed out the coup plotters from the National TV,” Onanuga said.
Benin, once known as one of West Africa’s most politically stable democracies, has a complex history of coups dating back to its independence from France in 1960. The country experienced multiple military takeovers before eventually achieving democratic consolidation in 1991 after the end of the rule of Marxist-Leninist leader Mathieu Kérékou. Since then, Benin has largely been considered a beacon of stability in the region.
President Patrice Talon, who came into office in 2016, is nearing the end of his second term and is expected to step down after the presidential election scheduled for April next year. His party’s chosen successor, former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, is widely seen as the frontrunner in the upcoming race. Meanwhile, the opposition has accused the government of shrinking the democratic space after the electoral commission rejected opposition candidate Renaud Agbodjo for allegedly failing to secure the required number of sponsors.
Political tensions have intensified in recent months. In January, two close associates of President Talon were handed twenty-year prison sentences for their alleged involvement in a 2024 coup plot. Only weeks ago, Benin’s legislature voted to extend the presidential term from five to seven years while maintaining the two-term limit, a decision that sparked public debate about the country’s democratic direction.
As Benin recovers from Sunday’s crisis, President Talon has urged citizens to remain vigilant and united. The government has assured the public that all necessary measures are being taken to prevent future incidents and to maintain national stability ahead of next year’s election.
For now, the swift action of loyal forces and regional support appears to have prevented what could have become another major political crisis in West Africa. The nation now turns its focus toward accountability, reconciliation and safeguarding its democratic institutions in the face of mounting regional instability.
Follow Africalivenews
Facebook: https://facebook.com/africalivenews
X (Twitter): https://x.com/africalivenews
Instagram: https://instagram.com/africalivenews
