FILE – Benin’s President Patrice Talon attends a gathering with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil, on Could 23, 2024.
Eraldo Peres/AP
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Eraldo Peres/AP
COTONOU, Benin — A coup that was introduced in Benin on Sunday has been “foiled,” the inside minister mentioned in a video on Fb.
“In the early morning of Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, a small group of soldiers launched a mutiny with the aim of destabilizing the state and its institutions,” Alassane Seidou mentioned.
“Faced with this situation, the Beninese Armed Forces and their leadership, true to their oath, remained committed to the republic.”
Earlier, a gaggle of troopers had appeared on Benin ‘s state TV Sunday to announce the dissolution of the federal government in an obvious coup, the newest of many in West Africa.
The group, which known as itself the Navy Committee for Refoundation, introduced the elimination of the president and all state establishments. Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri has been appointed president of the army committee, the troopers mentioned.
Following its independence from France in 1960, the West African nation witnessed a number of coups, particularly within the many years following its independence. Since 1991, the nation has been politically secure following the two-decade rule of Marxist-Leninist Mathieu Kérékou.
There was no official information about President Patrice Talon since gunshots had been heard across the presidential residence. The sign to state tv and public radio was reduce off after the army announcement.
Talon had been in energy since 2016 and was attributable to step down subsequent April after the presidential election.
Talon’s occasion choose, former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, was the favourite to win the election. Opposition candidate Renaud Agbodjo was rejected by the electoral fee on the grounds that he didn’t have adequate sponsors.
In January, two associates of Talon had been sentenced to 20 years in jail for an alleged 2024 coup plot.
Final month, the nation’s legislature prolonged the presidential time period of workplace from 5 to seven years, retaining the time period restrict at two.
The coup is the newest in a string of army takeovers which have rocked West Africa. Final month, a army coup in Guinea-Bissau eliminated former President Umaro Embalo after a contested election by which each he and the opposition candidate declared themselves winners.
