Coup attempt in Benin as soldiers claim power and the government insists it is still in control
In Benin, a group of soldiers has appeared on state television to announce that they have dissolved the government and removed President Patrice Talon from power. They introduced themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundation” and named Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri as their leader, declaring that the constitution and state institutions were suspended.
At almost the same time, officials speaking for the presidency insisted that Talon is safe, that loyal forces are “regaining control,” and that only a small group of mutinous soldiers has seized the broadcaster. Gunfire has been reported in parts of Cotonou and near the presidential residence, and the situation in the capital remains tense and uncertain.
The clash is not only about who commands the army today. It comes just months before Talon was due to step down in 2026, in a country that had been held up as one of West Africa’s more stable democracies, even as neighbours have been rocked by repeated coups.
This piece explains what is known so far about the attempted coup in Benin, how it fits into a wider wave of military takeovers in the region, and what is at stake for politics, security, and ordinary people. By the end, the reader should understand the main actors, the immediate risks, and the possible paths ahead.
The story turns on whether loyal forces can reassert control without pushing Benin into a prolonged power struggle.
Key Points
Soldiers calling themselves the Military Committee for Refoundation appeared on Benin’s state TV claiming they had removed President Patrice Talon and dissolved state institutions.
The presidency says Talon is safe, describes the event as a coup attempt by a “small group,” and insists that the national army is regaining control.
Fighting and gunfire have been reported near key sites in Cotonou and around the presidential residence, with state TV and radio briefly disrupted.
The attempted coup comes months before Talon was due to leave office in 2026 and follows earlier tensions, including a reported coup plot in 2024 and criticism over the exclusion of opposition figures.
Benin’s turmoil adds to a growing chain of coups and attempted coups across West Africa, raising questions for regional bodies and foreign partners about how to respond.
The outcome will shape investor confidence, trade through the port of Cotonou, and the country’s ability to manage jihadist threats in its northern regions.
Background
Benin, a coastal state in West Africa, has often been viewed as one of the region’s more stable democracies, especially compared with neighbours that have experienced multiple military takeovers. Patrice Talon, a businessman turned politician, became president in 2016 and was re-elected in 2021.
In early 2025, Talon stated publicly that he would not seek a third term and would leave office after the April 2026 election. His allies rallied around finance minister Romuald Wadagni as a preferred successor. Opposition parties and civil society groups, however, accused the government of shrinking the democratic space. Some opposition figures were barred from previous elections, and critics complained that courts and security forces had been used to sideline rivals.
Tensions sharpened after authorities said they had uncovered a coup plot in 2024 involving a former ally of Talon. High-profile trials and heavy sentences followed, reinforcing a sense that politics in Benin had become more personalised and confrontational.
At the same time, Benin has faced growing security threats from jihadist groups pushing south from the Sahel. Attacks in the north, including raids on military positions, forced the government to expand its military presence and strengthen regional partnerships.
Against that backdrop, today’s events unfolded quickly. Soldiers attacked Talon’s residence, seized the national broadcaster, and appeared on air to announce that they were dissolving the government, closing borders, and suspending political parties. Officials loyal to the president rejected the move, insisting that most of the armed forces remain aligned with the elected government and that the mutineers are isolated.
Analysis
Political and Geopolitical Dimensions
The coup attempt is unfolding at a sensitive time. Talon is nearing the end of his final term, and political debate over succession has grown sharper. Critics fear a “managed transition” designed to favour the ruling camp. Supporters argue that Talon’s promise not to seek an extension demonstrates respect for constitutional limits.
The soldiers leading the coup attempt say they acted in response to mismanagement and a tightening political environment. They hope to present themselves as guardians of national renewal. Yet their position is uncertain. They must convince enough of the armed forces to back them, maintain order in major cities, and overcome growing regional resistance to unconstitutional changes of power.
For Benin’s neighbours, the stakes are regional. The attempted coup follows other recent power struggles in West Africa, feeding concerns that a “coup belt” is stretching from the Sahel toward the Atlantic coast. Each new attempt tests the credibility of diplomatic and security mechanisms designed to prevent such takeovers.
If the coup succeeds, it could reinforce a perception that the region is drifting toward military rule. If it fails quickly and cleanly, it might strengthen civilian authority—though only if the response does not deepen divisions or provoke overreach.
Economic and Market Impact
Benin’s economy depends heavily on trade and transit. The port of Cotonou is a crucial hub for goods moving through the region. Instability in the capital, even if brief, raises concerns for shippers, insurers, and investors.
Short-term risks include disruption in Cotonou due to gunfire near strategic sites, potential curfews, and uncertainty over who controls security forces. Logistics can be affected even if port operations continue, as employees may stay home or key roads may face checkpoints.
Benin’s membership in a monetary union offers some financial stability, but investor confidence can shift quickly. Prolonged uncertainty could raise borrowing costs or delay infrastructure projects.
Social and Cultural Fallout
Many citizens have been startled by the sudden gunfire and the sight of soldiers claiming power. Benin has cultivated an image of calm and gradual democratic progress. An attempted coup challenges that perception.
Residents now face choices about whether to stay indoors, gather in support of one side, or attempt to continue daily routines. Civil society groups and religious leaders may come under pressure to state their positions.
The cultural effects may be long-lasting. Younger generations who have known only civilian rule may find their assumptions shaken. Older generations may recall periods of instability and worry about history repeating itself.
Technological and Security Implications
The seizure of state television highlights the importance of information control during a coup. By appearing on air, the mutineers tried to project authority. Rapid counter-statements from government officials show how contested the information space has become.
Social media complicates the picture: citizens can circulate images and accounts in real time, but rumours and misleading content can spread just as quickly.
Security concerns extend beyond the capital. Any diversion of military resources toward internal conflict could leave northern regions more vulnerable to attacks by armed groups.
What Most Coverage Misses
Most attention focuses on the spectacle of troops on television and the question of who holds the palace. Less examined is how even a failed coup alters political dynamics.
If loyalist forces defeat the mutiny, authorities will face difficult decisions about how to identify and discipline conspirators. Broad purges could damage institutions and civil liberties, while narrow measures might leave pockets of resentment within the military.
Another overlooked issue is trust. Benin has long pointed to its professional, apolitical army as a pillar of stability. The fact that factions have now acted against each other means that the relationship between politicians and the military will likely not return to its former equilibrium.
Why This Matters
Residents of Cotonou, Porto-Novo, and other urban areas are most immediately affected. Their routines have already been disrupted by the sound of gunfire, visible troop deployments, and uncertainty about travel, work, and school.
The key short-term question is whether the coup attempt fizzles or hardens into a standoff. A brief, contained mutiny can be absorbed. A prolonged confrontation between rival factions in densely populated areas poses far greater danger.
Longer term, today’s events will shape how regional actors approach democracy and security. A successful coup would deepen fears of spreading military rule. A failed coup, if followed by restraint, could demonstrate that institutions still have resilience—though nothing about that outcome is guaranteed.
Events to watch include any public appearance by Talon, statements from the military high command, emergency meetings of regional organisations, and signs of protest or crackdowns in major cities.
Real-World Impact
A small trader in Lagos who relies on Cotonou’s port is now worried about delays and higher costs.
A cotton farmer in northern Benin fears that patrols may thin out if the army is distracted, leaving communities more exposed to militant attacks.
A schoolteacher in Cotonou weighs whether to keep pupils home after hearing repeated reports of gunfire.
A civil society organiser who campaigns for fair elections must decide whether to speak out, stay neutral, or support one side despite misgivings.
Road Ahead
The attempted coup has exposed a fragile balance between an outgoing president, rival political camps preparing for a 2026 transition, and a military whose unity is now in question. Regardless of the outcome, the country will not simply return to its previous political rhythm.
At its core, the crisis hinges on control of the security forces and the willingness of either side to risk deeper instability. The choices ahead involve trade-offs between swift restoration of order and the dangers of escalation.
In the coming hours and days, certain signals will matter most: who appears on state media, whether communication networks operate normally, how quickly borders and key sites are secured, and how regional governments respond. These signs will reveal whether this attempted coup becomes another step in West Africa’s slide toward military rule, or a rare reversal.
