Apples Bite Magazine reports that Benin’s government announced Sunday that 14 individuals have been arrested in connection with a failed military coup attempt, as ECOWAS deployed standby troops from neighbouring countries to support the West African nation’s constitutional order.
Interior Minister Alassane Seidou confirmed that authorities had detained the suspects after “a small group of soldiers launched a mutiny with the goal of destabilizing the state and its institutions.”
The coup attempt unfolded Sunday morning when soldiers identifying themselves as the Military Committee for Refoundation (CMR) appeared on state television, claiming President Patrice Talon had been “removed from office” and announcing that Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri had been appointed to lead a transitional military committee.
The broadcast, which also declared the dissolution of all state institutions, was quickly cut off as Benin’s armed forces moved to regain control of the situation.
“In response to this situation, the armed forces of Benin and their leadership, true to their oath, retained control of the situation and foiled the manoeuvre,” Minister Seidou stated.
Gunfire was reported near Camp Guezo, close to the presidential residence in Cotonou, Benin’s largest city. However, government officials swiftly assured citizens that the coup attempt had failed and that President Talon remained safe and in control.
In a nationally televised address Sunday evening, President Talon reassured the nation: “I would like to assure you that the situation is completely under control and therefore invite you to calmly go about your activities starting this very evening.”
The 67-year-old leader, who has governed Benin for a decade and is scheduled to complete his term in April 2026, warned that the “treachery” of the rogue soldiers “will not go unpunished.”
Government spokesperson Wilfried Houngbedji emphasised the limited scope of the attempted takeover, stating that the plotters “only control the television” while the regular army maintained security throughout the country.
Military sources confirmed that coup plotters never gained access to President Talon’s residence or the presidential offices, and residents of Cotonou were observed going about their normal business despite the unrest.
In response to the crisis, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) immediately condemned the attempted coup as “unconstitutional” and deployed standby forces from Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone to preserve Benin’s constitutional order and territorial integrity.
The African Union similarly issued a statement “unequivocally condemning” the soldiers’ actions and urging them to return to their barracks.
The attempted coup adds Benin to a growing list of West African nations experiencing military upheaval. Recent months have witnessed successful military takeovers in Guinea-Bissau, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea, raising concerns about democratic stability across the region.
Security analyst Beverly Ochieng suggested the situation creates “prevailing uncertainty” for Benin, predicting additional arrests of individuals who may have supported the coup leader in the coming days.
Despite overseeing solid economic growth during his tenure, President Talon’s administration has faced challenges including a surge in jihadist violence affecting several countries in the region.
Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Benin experienced multiple coups before entering a period of relative political stability. The failed coup attempt represents the first serious challenge to that stability in recent years.
