The government of the Benin Republic says its armed forces have foiled a military coup attempt after a group of soldiers briefly appeared on national television on Sunday, December 7, 2025, claiming to have seized power and dissolved state institutions.

Mutiny Suppressed

Speaking later on national television, Interior Minister Alassane Seidou described the attempt as a mutiny by a handful of officers attempting to destabilize institutions. He said the loyal armed forces had “contained and neutralized” the threat and assured citizens that the situation had been brought under control.

Seidou confirmed that several individuals, including serving and former soldiers, had been arrested and insisted investigations were continuing.

Earlier, the soldiers, who announced Lieutenant-Colonel Pascal Tigri as head of a self-declared “Military Committee for Refoundation” , accused the government of mishandling security in parts of the country and neglecting frontline troops.

“The army solemnly commits to give the Beninese people the hope of a truly new era, where fraternity, justice and work prevail,” a statement read by one of at least eight soldiers holding weapons said.

Gunshots were reported around the presidential residence in Cotonou and parts of the city experienced disruptions, including interruptions to state broadcasting, before loyal forces moved to retake control. The signal to the state television and public radio, which was cut off, has now been restored.

A government spokesperson, Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji, said that 14 people had been arrested in connection with the coup attempt as of Sunday afternoon, without providing details. Local reports suggest that the alleged junta leader is on the run following the government’s swift crackdown.

Junta Leader Resurfaces in New Video

Later on Sunday, Colonel Tigri, who led the mutiny, reappeared in a recorded video with a defiant statement, saying that his group launched the operation to liberate the Beninese people from “Patrice Talon’s dictatorship and all the deprivation of rights of the people of Benin.”

The soldier, who appeared isolated, also urged the people of Benin to support his movement and called on the French government not to interfere in the country’s internal affairs.

Benin coup leader Tigri just REAPPEARED with a video message

Calls for ‘massive support’ and warns France ‘not to interfere’

BUT: Government says co-plotters already rounded up, Tigri on the run https://t.co/PJmuutzg2a pic.twitter.com/kHGO28ZvrQ

— RT (@RT_com) December 7, 2025

Earlier on Sunday, the French Embassy in Benin issued a security advisory to French nationals in the country, urging them to remain indoors following reports of gunfire near President Patrice Talon’s residence in Cotonou.

‼️ Message à l’attention de la communauté française au Bénin pic.twitter.com/BsFAakqznV

— La France au Bénin 🇫🇷🇧🇯🇪🇺 (@ambafrancebenin) December 7, 2025

Implications for Nigeria

The coup’s apparent failure is particularly important for Nigeria, which shares a long border with the Benin Republic and has already been grappling with insecurity around several of its northern borders.

Nigeria would have faced fresh complications had Benin joined the growing list of military-run states in the sub-region, especially at a moment when Nigeria is confronting spillovers from conflicts in the Sahel.

With Guinea-Bissau’s government toppled less than two weeks ago, specifically, November 26, 2025, a successful coup in Benin – Nigeria’s closest neighbor to the west and a crucial trade and security partner – would have raised urgent strategic concerns in Abuja.

Reacting to the foiled coup attempt on Sunday, the Nigerian government expressed relief that the Beninese security forces had suppressed the mutiny. It stressed the need for political grievances to be resolved through lawful and constitutional means.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, Nigeria reaffirmed its solidarity with Benin.

“Nigeria stands in firm solidarity with the Government and people of the Republic of Benin, and applauds the swift action taken by Beninese authorities to protect its legitimate institutions and preserve the peace,” the statement read.

pic.twitter.com/iMvoQiEn8N

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria 🇳🇬 (@NigeriaMFA) December 7, 2025

AU and ECOWAS’s Reactions

The president of the African Union (AU), Djiboutian Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, “firmly and unequivocally condemned the attempted military coup.”

He also expressed “deep concern over the worrying rise in coups and attempted coups in certain parts of the region,” stating that they “weaken continental stability.”

Le Président de la Commission de l’Union Africaine condamne avec la plus grande fermeté la tentative de coup d’état militaire en République du Bénin – 7 Décembre 2025.

Le Président de la Commission de l’Union africaine, S.E. Mahmoud Ali Yousouf, condamne fermement et sans… pic.twitter.com/XuCSDz4ZNn

— African Union (@_AfricanUnion) December 7, 2025

Similarly, ECOWAS said that it “firmly condemns this unconstitutional action, which constitutes a subversion of the will of the Beninese people.” It also praised “the efforts made by the government and the republican army to contain the situation.”

The West African organisation affirmed it would hold “the plotters individually and collectively responsible for any loss of life and property caused by their actions.”

Communiqué de la CÉDEAO sur la situation en République du Bénin. 07 décembre 2025. pic.twitter.com/j8kiA4VzpT

— Ecowas – Cedeao (@ecowas_cedeao) December 7, 2025

Political Dynamics in Benin

In January, two associates of President Talon, who is due to step down next April after the presidential election, were sentenced to 20 years in prison for an alleged 2024 coup plot.

Last month, the Benin Republic adopted a new constitution creating a Senate and extending the presidential mandate from five to seven years while keeping the term limit at two, in what critics said was a power grab by the ruling coalition, which has nominated Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni to be its candidate.

The opposition Democrats party, founded by Talon’s predecessor, Thomas Boni Yayi, saw its proposed candidate rejected because of what a court ruled was insufficient backing from legislators.

Benin experienced several military coups and coup attempts in the first decades after independence from France in 1960, but there has not been a power grab by force in the country since it held multi-party elections in 1991. 

Recurring Military Coups in Africa

The attempted coup in the Benin Republic comes at a time of heightened concern across Africa, particularly West Africa, where a succession of military takeovers in the last five years has reshaped political dynamics. Since 2020, there have been at least 10 successful military coups on the continent.

Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Niger, and, most recently, Guinea-Bissau in November, have all experienced coups or attempted coups, fueling anxiety about democratic backsliding and weakening of regional institutions.