A coup that was introduced in Benin on Sunday has been “foiled” by loyal troopers, the West African nation’s inside minister mentioned in a video on Fb.
“In the early morning of Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, a small group of soldiers launched a mutiny with the aim of destabilizing the state and its institutions,” Alassane Seidou mentioned. “Faced with this situation, the Beninese Armed Forces and their leadership, true to their oath, remained committed to the republic.”
Earlier Sunday, a gaggle of troopers appeared on Benin’s state TV to announce the dissolution of the federal government in an obvious coup, the most recent of many in West Africa.
A gaggle of troopers provides a press release on Benin’s nationwide tv, claiming to have seized energy, following studies of a coup try underway in opposition to the federal government of Benin’s President Patrice Talon, in Cotonou, Benin, on this screengrab from a handout video obtained by Reuters on December 7, 2025.
Benin TV/Handout by way of REUTERS
The group, which referred to as itself the Army Committee for Refoundation, introduced the elimination of President Patric Talon and all state establishments. Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri was appointed president of the army committee, the troopers mentioned.
The French embassy in Benin mentioned in social media posts that gunfire had been reported close to the president’s residence within the metropolis of Cotonou. The Russian embassy in Benin urged its residents to remain indoors for his or her security.
The U.S. Embassy urged its residents to avoid Cotonou, particularly the realm across the presidential compound, after the studies of gunfire and army exercise.
Site visitors strikes alongside on a street on the junction Saint-Michel subsequent to a roadblock, following studies of a coup try underway in opposition to the federal government of Benin’s President Patrice Talon, in Cotonou, Benin, December 7, 2025.
Charles Placide Tossou / REUTERS
The sign to the state tv and public radio, which was lower off, has now been restored. It was not instantly clear what occurred to the army group.
The regional bloc, Financial Group of West African States (ECOWAS), condemned the short-lived coup in a press release.
“ECOWAS strongly condemns this unconstitutional move that represents a subversion of the will of the people of Benin. … ECOWAS will support the Government and the people in all forms necessary to defend the Constitution and the territorial integrity of Benin,” the bloc mentioned in a press release.
Talon has been in energy since 2016 and was because of step down subsequent April after the presidential election.
Talon’s occasion choose, former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, is the favourite to win the election. Opposition candidate Renaud Agbodjo was rejected by the electoral fee on the grounds that he didn’t have adequate sponsors.
In January, two associates of Talon have been sentenced to twenty years in jail for an alleged 2024 coup plot.
Final month, the nation’s legislature prolonged the presidential time period of workplace from 5 to seven years, maintaining the time period restrict at two.
The coup is the most recent in a string of army takeovers which have rocked West Africa. Final month, a army coup in Guinea-Bissau eliminated former President Umaro Embalo after a contested election through which each he and the opposition candidate declared themselves winners.
Extra from CBS Information
