Benin’s authorities say order has been restored after a small group of soldiers briefly seized the national television station on Sunday and announced they had toppled President Patrice Talon.
Foreign Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari told Reuters that the mutineers only managed to control state TV for a few minutes before loyalist forces intervened.
“There is an attempt, but the situation is under control,” Bakari said. “It’s a small group of military. A large part of the army is still loyalist, and we are taking over the situation.”
The rebel soldiers, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Pascal Tigri, appeared on screen declaring Talon removed from office, dissolving state institutions, suspending political parties and announcing the closure of all borders. They identified themselves as members of a “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR).
The president’s office quickly dismissed the broadcast, saying Talon—who has governed since 2016 and is expected to leave office next April—was safe and that loyalist units were steadily reclaiming control.
“This is a small group of people who only control the television,” the presidency told AFP. “The regular army is regaining control. The city and the country are completely secure.”
The French embassy reported gunfire near Camp Guezo, close to Talon’s official residence, as the incident unfolded.
Observers say the failed putsch reflects mounting political tensions. Adama Gaye, former communications director for ECOWAS, told Al Jazeera the move “does not come as a surprise,” pointing to the imprisonment of opposition figures and Talon’s sidelining of rivals such as former President Boni Yayi. He added that Talon had reportedly lined up his finance minister as successor ahead of the 2026 vote.
The attempted coup adds to a wave of military takeovers that have swept West and Central Africa. Guinea-Bissau witnessed yet another coup last month; Niger, Gabon, Burkina Faso and Mali have all seen governments overthrown in the past four years, fuelling concerns of deepening regional instability.
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