The loyalist soldiers and national guards in Benin Republic have regained control after a group of soldiers announced on state television that they had seized power in an apparent coup attempt and that the leader of the matinées, Colonel Pascal Tigri, is on the run\
The Foreign Minister of Benin, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari and the Minister of Interior, Alassane Seidou, said in a separate interviews on Sunday that the coup plotters had taken control of the state Television only and that the signal had been cut for several minutes.
“There is an attempt, but the situation is under control. Now it’s a small group of military. A large part of the army is still loyalist, and we are taking over the situation,” Bakari told the Reuters.
“This is a small group of people who only control the television,” the Presidency said.
The report by Nigeria’s Vanguard newspaper quoted Bakari as saying that the regular army is regaining control and that the city and the country are completely secure.
The report also said that the Minister of Interior, Seidou stated that “Early on Sunday morning, December 7, 2025, a small group of soldiers launched a mutiny aimed at destabilising the state and its institutions.
“Faced with this situation, the Beninese armed forces and their leadership, true to their oath, remained committed to the republic. Their response allowed them to retain control of the situation and foil the attempt.
“The government therefore urges the population to go about their activities as normal,”
The newspaper recalled that earlier today, a group of soldiers, led by Lt-Col Pascal Tigri, had made a broadcast saying they had ousted President Patrice Talon and suspended the constitution.
It added that they also announced the suspension of the constitution and closure of the land borders.
According to the report, the soldiers leading the attempted coup justified their actions by criticising President Talon’s management of the country and that a statement read by one of the soldiers said: “The army solemnly commits to give the Beninese people the hope of a truly new era, where fraternity, justice and work prevail.
GIK/APA