Cotonou, Benin – December 7, 2025 – In a dramatic pre-dawn development that stunned West Africa, a group of Beninese soldiers seized the state television station on Sunday morning and announced they had overthrown President Patrice Talon, dissolved all state institutions, and placed Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri at the head of a new “Military Committee for Refoundation.” The broadcast, delivered by uniformed officers, accused Talon’s government of widespread corruption and abuse of power and declared an immediate curfew, border closures, and suspension of the constitution.
Minutes earlier, heavy gunfire had erupted around Camp Guézo, a military barracks located just metres from the presidential residence in Porto-Novo. The French Embassy in Benin quickly confirmed the shooting and urged all French nationals to shelter in place “until the situation is fully clarified.” Similar alerts were issued by several other diplomatic missions in Cotonou.
The rogue broadcast lasted less than fifteen minutes before loyalist troops retook the television headquarters. By mid-morning, the government declared the coup attempt “completely foiled,” stating that President Talon was safe and that the vast majority of the armed forces remained loyal. Official sources described the plotters as a small, isolated faction of fewer than fifty soldiers who had acted without broader military support.
Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, the officer named by the mutineers as their leader, was reportedly arrested along with several accomplices shortly after the station was secured. State television resumed normal programming by 9:00 a.m., airing footage of Republican Guard units patrolling key sites and government spokespersons reassuring the public that calm had been restored.
President Patrice Talon, a 67-year-old cotton tycoon turned politician, came to power in 2016 after defeating longtime rival Lionel Zinsou in a runoff. He was comfortably re-elected in 2021 in a controversial vote boycotted by major opposition figures, many of whom had been barred from running or forced into exile following 2019 electoral reforms that critics labelled authoritarian. Talon’s administration has been praised for strong economic growth, large-scale infrastructure projects, and anti-corruption drives, but heavily criticised for shrinking democratic space, muzzling the press, and jailing political opponents.
This is not the first time Talon has faced an alleged coup plot. In January 2025, two of his former close allies – including ex-Sports Minister Oswald Homéky – were sentenced to twenty years in prison for their roles in a supposed 2024 conspiracy involving foreign mercenaries. Talon has repeatedly stated he will not seek a third term and has endorsed his Finance Minister, Romuald Wadagni, as his preferred successor for the April 2026 presidential election.
Analysts suggest the latest unrest may stem from discontent among mid-ranking officers over slow promotions, perceived favouritism within the military hierarchy, and broader economic frustrations in a country where youth unemployment remains stubbornly high despite robust GDP growth. The incident fits into a wider pattern of instability across West Africa, where eight successful or attempted coups have occurred since 2020 in countries including Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Gabon.
Social media platforms exploded with reaction as the events unfolded. Videos of the rebel broadcast were shared hundreds of thousands of times, accompanied by heated debates ranging from celebrations of a “people’s uprising” to condemnation of yet another disruption to democratic order. Hashtags such as #BeninCoup and #TalonMustGo trended regionally, while pro-government accounts insisted the incident was the work of “a handful of adventurers” with no popular backing.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union issued statements condemning any unconstitutional change of government and calling for calm. The United States, European Union, and France – Benin’s largest bilateral partner – all reiterated support for constitutional legality and urged a peaceful resolution.
By early afternoon, most restrictions had been lifted. Borders were reopened, domestic flights resumed, and the curfew announced by the plotters was officially cancelled. Internet access, which had briefly slowed during the morning, returned to normal speeds. Markets in Cotonou and Porto-Novo reopened, though an atmosphere of caution lingered.
For now, President Talon appears to have weathered the most serious challenge to his nine-year rule. Yet the speed with which a small group of soldiers was able to seize the national broadcaster and broadcast their message nationwide has raised fresh questions about internal security and the depth of grievances within Benin’s armed forces. As investigations continue and the arrested officers face probable charges of treason, the events of December 7 serve as a stark reminder that even one of West Africa’s most stable democracies is not entirely immune to the regional contagion of military interventionism.
