Sunday began with an unusual tension in Cotonou. As the city’s usual weekend rhythm unfolded, eight soldiers appeared on the state broadcaster with a blunt message. They announced that President Patrice Talon had been removed from office and that the constitution and all institutions had been dissolved. Calling themselves the Military Committee for Refoundation, they claimed to have taken control of the country. It was a familiar script in a region where governments have fallen with alarming frequency.
Benin, however, refused to join the growing list. Within hours, loyalist forces pushed back the mutiny. Nigerian air support intervened at Talon’s request, and the plot collapsed before it could gain momentum. Fourteen suspects were arrested, and by nightfall the president returned to the airwaves, calm but resolute, promising consequences for everyone involved.
This report examines how Benin’s security structure, reinforced by intelligence sharing and regional cooperation, acted quickly enough to prevent a new chapter of military rule in West Africa.
The disorder began around 8 a.m. on December 7 as gunfire echoed near the presidential residence. Residents fled the streets, unsure whether the country was witnessing a brief disturbance or a full-scale seizure of power. At the Ortbe television station, Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri led a small group of officers in recording the coup proclamation. Their grievances centered on the growing violence in northern Benin, where extremist groups linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda have carried out repeated attacks. They accused the government of failing to support soldiers and neglecting families of those killed in action.
The broadcast lasted only a short while. Once the rebels left the studio, journalists regained their footing and alerted authorities. Intelligence reports later indicated that the operation involved a very limited circle of disaffected officers and had no backing from senior command units or the wider armed forces. Despite Benin’s long history of attempted coups, the country has maintained democratic transfers of power for more than twenty years, which left Tigri’s faction isolated from the outset.
Security officials responded with unusual speed. The army chief and interior ministry activated emergency plans already prepared in case of discontent among the ranks. Loyal units took control of key installations across Cotonou, including the airport and presidential compound. The interior minister released a short video confirming that the armed forces remained united and that the attempt was contained.
By early afternoon the situation escalated as explosions were reported across parts of the city. Flight-tracking data showed three Nigerian aircraft entering Benin’s airspace after an urgent appeal from Talon. Abuja later confirmed that the jets were deployed to help restore order. They targeted positions held by the mutineers without causing widespread damage, allowing ground forces to retake the television station and a nearby camp. Nigeria described the action as a step taken in defense of constitutional order and regional stability.
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When Talon addressed the nation that evening, he praised the discipline of loyal soldiers and promised support for families affected by the incident. The government later confirmed that fourteen suspects were in custody, including a former soldier previously dismissed from service. No official casualty figures have been released, though officials suggested that the confrontations ended with few losses.
Benin’s rapid recovery stands out against the region’s turbulent landscape. In recent years Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea have all fallen under military rule. Long-standing partnerships have shifted as some juntas distance themselves from ECOWAS and form new alliances. The spread of extremist violence has placed growing pressure on southern states, including Benin, which now borders some of the most dangerous zones in the Sahel.
The events of the weekend show how deeply this instability has influenced domestic politics. Talon has faced criticism for limiting opposition activity and championing constitutional reforms that extend presidential mandates. These tensions may have contributed to the timing of the mutiny. Even so, analysts say the swift response demonstrated the strength of Benin’s military hierarchy and the effectiveness of its intelligence system, which has been shaped by training partnerships with Western and regional allies.
ECOWAS and the African Union condemned the coup attempt almost immediately, reaffirming their opposition to any forced change of government. A standby force involving troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, and Ghana arrived after order had already been restored, but the deployment signaled the bloc’s intention to prevent another rupture in its southern corridor. The United Nations also warned that West Africa could face broader consequences if more states succumb to political breakdown.
As patrols remain visible across Cotonou, the country enters a cautious period. The failed coup may strengthen Talon in the short term, yet the underlying issues in the north and the political strain at home remain unresolved. For now, Benin has resisted the spiral that has reshaped its neighbors. Whether this firmness holds will depend on how the government addresses the grievances that helped ignite the failed plot.
