A faction of soldiers in Benin Republic has announced the removal of President Patrice Talon in what appears to be an attempted coup.
The announcement came on state television on Sunday, December 7, 2025, delivered by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri and members of a group calling themselves the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR).
The group declared, “Mr Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic,” although the president’s current location remains unconfirmed.
The French Embassy reported gunfire near Camp Guezo, close to the president’s official residence, and advised residents to stay indoors for safety.
Later, the presidency confirmed that President Talon is safe and that the regular army is regaining control. “This is a small group of individuals who only control the television station,” the statement said. “The city and the country remain completely secure.”
President Talon, in power since 2016, was due to step down in April next year.
The attempted coup in Benin forms part of a troubling trend of military takeovers in West Africa. In November, Guinea-Bissau experienced a coup led by General Horta Inta-A, while in 2023, Gabon’s Ali Bongo Ondimba and Niger’s Mohamed Bazoum were both removed by military forces. Other countries, including Burkina Faso and Mali, have also faced similar disruptions in recent years.
