Paris, December 9, 2025 – France provided critical surveillance, observation, and logistical support to Benin’s armed forces at the direct request of the government in Cotonou, helping to crush a short-lived coup attempt that erupted in the early hours of Sunday, December 7, an aide to President Emmanuel Macron confirmed on Tuesday.
Speaking on condition of anonymity at the Élysée Palace, the senior official revealed that Macron personally led a rapid regional coordination effort, holding telephone conversations with Beninese President Patrice Talon, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, and Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, the current ECOWAS rotating chairman, within 48 hours of the failed putsch.
“France was asked by the legitimate Beninese authorities to provide assistance in terms of surveillance, observation, and logistical support,” the aide stated. While exact operational details remain classified, sources familiar with the response indicated that French military assets, including reconnaissance drones and real-time intelligence sharing, played a decisive role in helping loyalist forces regain control of key installations in Cotonou before the plotters could consolidate power.
The attempted coup began around 4:30 a.m. local time when a group of approximately twenty mid-ranking officers stormed the headquarters of the national broadcaster, ORTB, in the heart of Benin’s economic capital. Eight soldiers appeared on live television, announcing the creation of a “Patriotic Movement for National Renewal,” declaring President Talon deposed, dissolving all institutions, and imposing an immediate curfew. They cited widespread corruption, economic hardship, and the government’s alleged failure to counter growing jihadist incursions in the north as justification for their actions.
For nearly an hour, sporadic gunfire echoed across Cotonou, and armored vehicles were seen moving toward the presidential palace and the port area. Residents reported low-flying helicopters and explosions, while social media filled with videos of soldiers sealing off major roads. Panic spread quickly in a city unaccustomed to such violence; Benin had not experienced a successful military takeover since 1972 and is widely regarded as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies.
By mid-morning, however, the tide had turned. Interior Minister Aboubakar Kossou announced that loyalist troops had retaken the television station and neutralized the rebellion. Fourteen people were arrested, including seven active-duty officers, and three plotters were killed during the fighting. President Talon, who had been moved to a secure location, addressed the nation that evening, declaring the situation “completely under control” and v owing that “those responsible for this treachery will face the full rigor of the law.”
Behind the scenes, the rapid international response proved crucial. Nigeria dispatched air force jets that established air superiority over Cotonou within hours, while ECOWAS activated elements of its standby force, including contingents from Sierra Leone and Ghana. French intelligence and surveillance assets, operating from bases in the region, supplied real-time targeting information that enabled precise strikes on rebel positions and prevented the plotters from regrouping.
The failed coup marks the latest chapter in West Africa’s ongoing “coup belt” crisis. Since 2020, the region has seen eight successful or attempted military takeovers, most recently in Guinea-Bissau last month. Benin had largely escaped the wave, but rising jihadist attacks in its northern border areas, combined with political tensions surrounding President Talon’s controversial 2021 re-election and subsequent opposition crackdowns, appear to have created fertile ground for discontent within sections of the military.
For France, the operation represents a delicate balancing act. After being expelled from Mali and Niger amid fierce anti-French sentiment and the rise of Russian influence, Paris has repositioned itself as a supportive rather than dominant partner in coastal West Africa. The intervention in Benin, undertaken at the explicit invitation of a sovereign government, allowed Macron to demonstrate that France remains a reliable security partner without the baggage of permanent bases or large troop deployments.
Regional leaders have praised the swift multilateral response. ECOWAS issued a strong condemnation of the coup attempt and promised continued support for democratic institutions in Benin. The African Union and the United Nations also welcomed the restoration of order and called for a thorough investigation into the origins of the plot.
As Benin begins the process of identifying and prosecuting the conspirators, several ringleaders, including Lt. Col. Pascal Zomahoun, remain at large, reportedly having fled across the border into Togo. With national elections scheduled for April 2026 and President Talon constitutionally barred from seeking a third term, the failed putsch has cast a long shadow over the country’s political future.
For now, however, Cotonou has returned to calm. Markets have reopened, traffic is flowing again, and President Talon has vowed to strengthen both military loyalty and democratic safeguards. In the words of one Beninese official speaking anonymously, “This was a wake-up call, but thanks to our friends in the region and beyond, the democratic flame continues to burn.”
