Benin’s President, Patrice Talon, has publicly addressed the failed coup attempt for the first time, condemning the incident and expressing sympathy for its victims. His remarks followed hours of uncertainty in Cotonou, where bursts of gunfire were reported in parts of the administrative capital.
Earlier on Sunday, a faction of soldiers appeared on national television claiming to have dissolved the government under the banner of a self-styled “Military Committee for Refoundation.” However, Interior Minister Alassane Seidou later announced via a Facebook video that security forces had successfully quashed the plot — though Talon had remained silent until now.
In a televised address to the nation, Talon offered condolences to those affected and acknowledged that some individuals were still being held by the fleeing mutineers. He pledged that the government would work tirelessly to secure their release. He did not disclose the number of casualties or hostages.
According to Seidou, the mutiny began early on Sunday, December 7, when a small group of soldiers attempted to destabilize state institutions. He praised the Beninese Armed Forces for remaining loyal to the republic and upholding their constitutional duties.
In response to the attempted takeover, ECOWAS announced the deployment of a regional force — drawing personnel from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, and Ghana — to assist Benin in safeguarding constitutional order and national stability.
Local reports indicated that 13 soldiers connected to the attempted coup had been arrested, though the status of Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, identified as the coup leader, remains unknown. While gunfire and increased military presence were observed in parts of Cotonou, the city has mostly remained calm since the plot was foiled. Broadcast signals for state radio and television, briefly cut during the unrest, have also been restored.
Benin, which experienced numerous coups after its independence from France in 1960, has enjoyed relative political stability since 1991. Talon, in office since 2016, is set to leave power next April following the presidential election. His preferred successor, former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, is widely seen as the frontrunner after opposition candidate Renaud Agbodjo was disqualified for lacking sufficient sponsors.
The attempted coup adds to a growing list of military takeovers across West Africa. Just last month, Guinea-Bissau’s former President Umaro Embaló was ousted following a disputed election in which both leading candidates claimed victory.
