A group of soldiers in Benin announced sunday the ouster of President Patrice Talon, sparking concerns of further instability in West africa [[2]]. While the Beninese presidential office has refuted the claims as an attempted coup, the declaration-made on state television-comes amidst a recent surge of military takeovers across the region, including neighboring countries like Niger and Burkina Faso [[2]]. Benin,a country of approximately 13.7 million people [[1]], now faces a period of uncertainty as its military asserts control and the situation remains fluid.
A group of soldiers in Benin announced Sunday, December 7, 2025, that they had overthrown President Patrice Talon, though the country’s presidential office swiftly dismissed the claims as unfounded and asserted the situation was under control. The reported coup attempt adds to a wave of instability in West Africa, a region increasingly vulnerable to military takeovers.
President Talon, often referred to as the ‘cotton king of Cotonou,’ was scheduled to leave office in April after a decade in power marked by robust economic growth alongside a surge in violent attacks by jihadist groups.
Several West African nations have experienced coups in recent years, including Benin’s northern neighbors Niger and Burkina Faso, as well as Mali, Guinea, and most recently, Guinea-Bissau.
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Early Sunday morning, soldiers identifying themselves as the ‘Military Committee for Reform’ (CMR) appeared on state television to declare that they had “decided to remove Patrice Talon from his functions as president of the republic.”
Television signals were subsequently cut. Shortly after the announcement, a source close to Talon told AFP that the president was safe.
“This is a small group of individuals who only control the television station. The regular army has regained control. The city [Cotonou] and the country are completely secure. It is only a matter of time before everything returns to normal. The operation to restore order is underway,” the source said.
A military source confirmed that the situation was ‘under control’ and that the coup plotters had not seized the presidential residence or the presidential office. Meanwhile, the French Embassy reported on X (formerly Twitter) that “shots were fired at Camp Guezo” near the president’s official residence in the economic capital.
The French Embassy advised French citizens to remain indoors for their safety. An AFP journalist in Cotonou reported that soldiers were blocking access to the presidential office and state television headquarters.
Access to several other areas, including a five-star hotel in Cotonou and districts housing international organizations, was also restricted. However, there were no reports of a military presence at the airport, and life continued as normal for most residents of the city.
Benin’s political history has been marked by several coups and attempted coups since its independence from France in 1960. Talon, who came to power in 2016, is due to complete his second and final term in 2026, as stipulated by the constitution.
The main opposition party has been barred from competing in the upcoming elections, with the ruling party set to contest against what officials have described as ‘moderate’ opposition groups.
Talon has been credited with fostering economic development in Benin, but he has frequently been accused of authoritarianism by his critics.
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(haf/imk)
