President Patric Talon’s administration has announced that the armed forces have thwarted the coup staged by some soldiers in Benin Republic in the early hours of Sunday.
Alassane Seidou, the Beninese minister of interior, who disclosed this while addressing the public on national television, said “things have returned back to normal.”
“In the early hours of Sunday, December 7, 2025, A small group of soldiers launched a mutiny with the aim of destabilising the country and its institutions,” Mr Seidou said.
The minister stated the armed forces and their leadership, true to their oath, remained loyal to the Republic in response to the situation.
“Their counteraction allowed them to maintain control of the situation and thwart the manoeuvre. Consequently, the Government invites the population to go about their daily activities as usual,” he added.
The minister’s statement came after some soldiers, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Tigri Pascal, announced a sudden takeover of the government, accusing Mr Talon of mismanagement.
“The activities of political parties are hereby suspended until further notice,” Mr Pascal said while announcing the coup on a national TV on Sunday. “The land, sea and air borders of Benin are closed until further notice. The seizure of power at this moment translates the firm will of the military committee from the restructuring to the extrication of all social layers of our country, without any distinction, for the continuation of the transition and to restore national cohesion.”
A statement by the U.S. Embassy in Cotonou said it was monitoring the event, urging residents to stay indoors in the interest of safety.
The attempted coup took place barely a week after Umaro Sissoco Embaló was overthrown as president in nearby Guinea-Bissau.
Several West African countries, including Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger, have witnessed military takeovers in recent times, raising serious concerns about the security of the region.
