Gunfire, a live TV takeover, a failed coup attempt: What happened in Benin and why is it the talk of the town?

What really happened when soldiers tried to oust Benin’s president

Benin’s government says it has thwarted a coup attempt after a group of soldiers appeared on national television on Sunday, claiming they had removed President Patrice Talon from power and dissolved state institutions. Authorities later confirmed Talon was safe and the armed forces had regained control of key sites.

Gunfire was reported near the president’s residence in Cotonou early in the morning, prompting temporary security restrictions in parts of the city. But officials assured residents that the situation was returning to normal.

Soldiers announce takeover on TV

A group identifying itself as the “Military Committee for Refoundation” announced the president’s removal and the suspension of Benin’s constitution.

Benin'de askerler, Devlet Başkanı Talon'a başarısız bir darbe girişimi gerçekleştirdi. — Darbeciler, devlet televizyonunu ele geçirip bildiri okumaya başladı. — Kısa bir süre sonra hükümete bağlı güçler, kontrolü geri aldı. pic.twitter.com/jbMVYAzPNE

— Objektif Türk (@objektifturkcom) December 7, 2025

The group said Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri had been appointed to lead the new military authority.

Government responds

Interior Minister Alassane Seidou later issued a statement confirming that the mutiny had failed:

“A small group of soldiers launched a mutiny with the aim of destabilising the state and its institutions,” he said, praising military leadership for remaining loyal to the republic.

Foreign Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari said the plotters only managed to take control of state TV.

“The government urges the population to go about their business as usual,” Seidou added.

All you need to know?

The attempted coup comes amid preparations for Benin’s presidential election in April 2026, which would mark the end of Talon’s second and final term. Parliament recently extended the presidential mandate from five to seven years, while keeping the two-term limit, a move criticised by opposition groups.

Talon’s preferred successor is former finance minister Romuald Wadagni. The main opposition candidate, Renaud Agbodjo, was disqualified for lacking enough political endorsements.

Security fears and political tensions

President Talon, nicknamed the “cotton king of Cotonou” for his business background, has presided over strong economic growth. But the country faces rising jihadist threats spilling over from neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger. Critics also accuse his government of eroding democratic freedoms and sidelining opponents.

Coup contagion in West Africa

Benin now joins a growing list of West African states facing coup attempts or military rule, including Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and, most recently, Guinea-Bissau.

Despite Sunday’s unrest, authorities say the nation remains stable and secure, “The regular army is regaining control. The city and the country are completely secure,” a source close to Talon told the media.