President Patrice Talon has been confirmed safe as loyalist forces move to reclaim full control of Cotonou following an attempted coup led by a dissident military faction early Sunday morning.
A group of officers identifying themselves as the Military Committee for Refoundation briefly seized Benin’s national television station, where their leader, Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, announced the dissolution of state institutions and declared himself head of a so-called “military re-establishment committee.”
Reports from Beninese media outlet TchadOne indicated that the insurgent officers attacked President Talon’s residence in the Le Guézo district before occupying the national broadcaster. But the presidency, via statements cited by AFP, quickly dispelled rumours of Talon’s capture, stressing that the president is unharmed and still in command.
“This is a small group of people who only control the television,” the presidency said. “The regular army is regaining control. The city and the country are completely secure.”
Security forces have since launched operations to restore order, with multiple districts of the capital reportedly back under government control.
Earlier in the day, Lieutenant Colonel Tigri appeared on national television to claim responsibility for the attempted takeover, announcing what he called a transitional military authority.
Context: West Africa’s Rising Tide of Coups
The failed uprising in Benin comes amid a troubling resurgence of coups across West Africa, highlighting growing political fragility in the region.
Guinea-Bissau
In November 2025, military generals in Guinea-Bissau seized power on the eve of a presidential election, detaining President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and suspending the electoral process. General Horta Inta-A was installed to lead a one-year transition, prompting international condemnation and forcing opposition candidate Fernando Dias da Costa to seek asylum in Nigeria.
Mali
Mali—already under junta rule after coups in 2020 and 2021—announced in August 2025 that it had foiled yet another attempt to overthrow the military government. Two generals and a French national were arrested. The junta, led by Colonel Assimi Goïta, continues to ban political activity, delay elections, and face unrelenting jihadist violence.
Burkina Faso
In Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s regime said in April 2025 it thwarted a coup plot involving senior officers allegedly collaborating with terrorist groups. Despite strong anti-Western rhetoric and reforms such as reinstating the death penalty for treason, public anxiety remains high due to persistent insecurity and internal military divisions.
Niger Republic
Niger’s July 2023 coup, led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and ushered in prolonged military rule. Sanctions from ECOWAS and strained ties with Western partners have reshaped the nation’s political landscape, as public protests in Niamey reflect a mix of nationalist sentiment and disenchantment with foreign influence.