An attempted military coup in the West African nation of Benin has reportedly been swiftly crushed by loyalist government forces after a small faction of soldiers seized the state television station early Sunday morning. The rogue group, identifying itself as the Military Committee for Refoundation (CMR) and led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, briefly appeared on state television to declare the dissolution of the government and the removal of President Patrice Talon. However, the bid to seize power was quickly neutralized by the country’s armed forces.
Loyal Forces Retake Control
Gunfire was reported in the capital of Porto-Novo and near the presidential residence in the economic hub of Cotonou, specifically at Camp Guezo. The French Embassy in Benin warned French nationals to stay indoors following the reports of violence. The coup plotters had announced the suspension of the constitution, the freezing of political party activities, and the closure of the country’s borders.
However, the military’s response was immediate and decisive. Benin’s Interior Minister, Alassane Seidou, confirmed that the coup had been “foiled,” stating that a “small group of soldiers launched a mutiny with the aim of destabilizing the state and its institutions.” The Minister affirmed that the Benin Armed Forces and their leadership “remained committed to the republic.”
Official sources from the presidency confirmed that President Patrice Talon is safe, although his specific whereabouts were not disclosed. By late morning, military and security sources reported that the situation was contained, and at least a dozen soldiers, including the ringleaders of the foiled operation, had been arrested.
The “Coup Belt” and Political Context
The coup attempt against President Talon, who has been in power since 2016 and is due to step down after the presidential election in April 2026, is the latest in a troubling series of military takeovers that have destabilized the West African region. Benin’s neighbors, including Niger, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali, have all experienced successful military coups in recent years, placing Benin directly in the region often referred to as the “Coup Belt.”
While Benin has historically been one of the more politically stable democracies in the region since 1991, this attempt follows previous alleged coup plots against President Talon, including one last year that led to the conviction and sentencing of two of his close associates. Regional bodies, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), swiftly condemned the unconstitutional move, underscoring the international community’s opposition to the subversion of democratic order. The rapid suppression of the rebellion by loyal forces indicates a robust rejection of military rule within the core of the Beninese military hierarchy.
