Thirty-one individuals implicated in the failed coup attempt of December 7, 2025, have been placed in pretrial detention following an overnight hearing before the Court for the Repression of Economic Crimes and Terrorism (CRIET).
The group, consisting of 30 military personnel and one civilian, appeared before Special Prosecutor Mario Metonou under heavy security. The courthouse was completely cordoned off as the session lasted from Monday night until Tuesday morning.
The defendants face a series of severe charges related to the uprising, including endangering state security, murder and treason, and collusion with a foreign power.
While 31 are in custody, the alleged leader of the movement, Pascal Tigri, remains at large along with several other suspects. The government has pledged to utilize international cooperation to secure the extradition of any fugitives currently hiding in neighboring countries.
Beninese Foreign Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari addressed the 95th session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers to explain why the government requested external military support from Nigeria.
He clarified that while Beninese forces initially contained the mutineers, the government called in Nigerian assistance to “limit casualties and destruction” after attackers entrenched themselves in a strategic military camp.
The intervention was described as a successful application of the ECOWAS mandate to preserve constitutional order. Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar Maitama praised the intelligence coordination between Presidents Patrice Talon and Bola Ahmed Tinubu in neutralizing the threat.
Government spokesperson Wilfried Houngbedji confirmed that investigations are ongoing to determine if there were external sponsors or deeper levels of complicity. He noted the following details regarding the attempt: Scale: The attempt involved a “small group” of 100 to 200 soldiers out of the several thousand in the Beninese army. Hostages: Two high-ranking officers who were taken hostage have since been released. Disinformation: Authorities claim to have identified the origins of disinformation campaigns on social media intended to destabilize the country during the event.
The Beninese government has reaffirmed its commitment to institutional stability and promised to learn from these events, which have significantly impacted public opinion.
AC/fss/abj/APA