Benin Foils Coup Attempt Amid Political Turmoil

On December 7, 2025, Benin's interior minister, Alassane Seidou, announced that a coup attempt had been foiled. A small group of soldiers, identifying themselves as the Military Committee for Refoundation, attempted to destabilize the state by announcing the dissolution of the government and appointing Lt.

Col. Pascal Tigri as their leader. Following the announcement, gunshots were reported around the presidential residence, and public broadcasting signals were temporarily cut off. However, the military remained loyal to the republic and restored order.

The Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, condemned the coup bid, asserting support for the existing government, which is led by President Patrice Talon, who has been in power since 2016.

Talon was due to step down in April 2026 after the presidential election, but the situation reflects ongoing political instability in the region, exacerbated by recent military takeovers in neighboring countries like Guinea-Bissau.

The coup attempt is a stark reminder of the fragility of democratic institutions in West Africa, where several coups have occurred in recent years, including the recent conviction of Talon's associates for an alleged coup plot in 2024 and the recent extension of presidential terms from five to seven years by the legislature.