On Sunday, December 7, 2025, the West African nation of Benin Republic experienced an attempted military coup, plunging the country into a state of tension and drawing strong condemnation from regional and international bodies. A group of soldiers, identifying themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR) and reportedly led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, appeared on national television to announce the removal of President Patrice Talon from office and the dissolution of all state institutions. Gunshots were heard near President Talon’s residence in the Le Guézo neighborhood of Cotonou, and armored vehicles were seen patrolling the presidential palace precinct.

The mutineers declared that the constitution was suspended, all institutions dissolved, and political party activities halted, promising a new era for the Beninese people. Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, who seized control of the national television station, declared himself “chairman of the military re-establishment committee” and was appointed president of the military committee by the group. This dramatic announcement came at a sensitive time, months ahead of a presidential election scheduled for April 2026, which was expected to conclude President Talon's tenure since 2016, a commitment to constitutional limits rare in the region.

However, the Benin Republic presidency swiftly countered the claims, asserting that President Patrice Talon was safe and that the “regular” army was regaining control. The presidency described the soldiers involved as “a small group of people who only control the television,” emphasizing that “the city and the country are completely secure.” Interior Minister Alassane Seidou later appeared on national television to confirm that the mutiny had been contained. Defence and security forces successfully thwarted the attempted coup, leading to the arrest of several members of the group, while Colonel Pascal Tigri was reported to be on the run.

The failed coup attempt triggered heightened security measures across Cotonou before loyal forces restored calm and regained full control of key state institutions. Wilfried Houngbedji, the spokesperson for the Benin Government, affirmed that “Everything is fine.” Despite the brief disruption, the prompt response of the Beninese security forces ensured that the bid to subvert democracy was decisively repelled, safeguarding the constitutional order.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU), along with the Nigerian government, strongly condemned the attempted military takeover. ECOWAS, receiving reports with “consternation,” labeled the incident an “unconstitutional move that represents a subversion of the will of the people of Benin.” It called for full respect of Benin’s constitution and praised the government and republican army for bringing the situation under control. ECOWAS also held the plot leaders “individually and collectively responsible for any loss to life and property” and pledged support, including the potential deployment of its regional standby force, to defend Benin’s constitution and territorial integrity.

Similarly, the African Union Commission Chairperson, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Yousouf, unequivocally condemned the coup attempt as a “grave violation of the fundamental principles and values of the African Union.” Yousouf cited various continental instruments, including the AU Constitutive Act and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, which categorically reject military encroachment in governance. He reiterated the AU’s “zero-tolerance stance toward any unconstitutional change of government, regardless of context or justification,” urging all actors involved to cease unlawful actions and return to their barracks. Nigeria's federal government also expressed “grave concern,” praising Beninese authorities for their swift actions and reiterating its commitment to democracy and the rule of law.

This attempted coup in Benin comes amidst a troubling wave of political instability and military takeovers across West Africa since 2020. The region has witnessed nine coups in recent years, including Guinea-Bissau (November 2025), Mali (2020, 2021), Burkina Faso (2022), and Niger (2023). Benin itself has a history of multiple coups following its independence from France in 1960, although it has maintained political stability since 1991. The increasing frequency of such incidents continues to undermine continental stability, threaten democratic gains, and embolden military actors to act outside constitutional mandates, posing a significant challenge to democratic governance in the sub-region.