A coup attempt led by a group of soldiers in Benin on Sunday, December 7, was swiftly thwarted by forces loyal to President Patrice Talon, prompting the immediate deployment of a regional ECOWAS standby force.
While President Talon has regained control, authorities confirmed that hostages are still being held by mutineers currently on the run.
The incident briefly shook the West African nation, which has historically been known for its democratic stability since 1972, triggering firm and rapid mobilization from regional and international bodies.
In the early hours of Sunday, the dissenting soldiers seized the public television station and declared the removal of President Talon. They identified themselves as the Military Committee for Reformation (CMR), appointing Lieutenant Colonel Tigri Pascal as their leader.
The CMR announced the suspension of the Constitution (adopted in November 2025), the dissolution of institutions, the suspension of political parties, and the closure of all borders, claiming full transitional powers.
Their justification for the coup was based on a range of grievances, including: Deteriorating security in northern Benin due to jihadist attacks. The abandonment of families of soldiers killed in action. Dysfunction within the armed forces. Unjust social measures targeting civil servants and teachers. Political restrictions imposed on the opposition.
Hours after the announcement, Interior Minister Allasane Seidou denied the coup’s success, describing it as a localized mutiny. He asserted that the Beninese Armed Forces had remained faithful to their oath and successfully regained control of the situation.
Later that day, President Patrice Talon addressed the nation in his first public appearance since the crisis began. He confirmed that the situation was “completely under control” after all remaining pockets of resistance were cleared.
However, President Talon revealed a disturbing detail: individuals are still being held captive by the fleeing mutineers. He promised a fight to ensure their safe return, suggesting that some plotters remain at large.
The regional reaction was unprecedented and decisive. The ECOWAS Commission immediately condemned the unconstitutional act and, within hours, ordered the immediate deployment of a regional standby force to Benin.
The force, composed of troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana, is tasked with supporting the government and the Beninese army in preserving constitutional order. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu confirmed his armed forces acted on his orders within the framework of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
The African Union also strongly condemned the attempt, with Commission Chairman Mahmoud Ali Yousouf reaffirming the continental organization’s zero-tolerance stance towards unconstitutional changes of government.
The attempted coup is the second such incident in the ECOWAS region in less than two weeks, following events in Guinea-Bissau on November 26, and is part of a worrying regional trend.
The crisis is set against a challenging domestic political backdrop just months before the April 2026 presidential election. Although President Talon is finishing his final constitutional term, the exclusion of the main opposition party, ‘Les Democrates,’ from the electoral process was a key political grievance cited by the mutineers.
Furthermore, the country has struggled with growing insecurity in its northern regions, where jihadist groups have carried out recurring attacks, including one in April 2025 that reportedly resulted in 54 military deaths.
AC/Sf/fss/abj/APA