COTONOU, Benin — A coup that began on December 7, 2025, has been thwarted, according to the interior minister, Alassane Seidou. Early that morning, a small faction of soldiers attempted to disrupt the government. Seidou stated that the Beninese Armed Forces stood firm and remained loyal to the Republic.
Initially, soldiers claimed on Benin’s state TV that they were dissolving the government. They called themselves the Military Committee for Refoundation and declared the removal of the president and all state institutions. Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri was named the president of this military committee.
Benin, a West African nation, has a history of coups following its independence from France in 1960. While political stability returned in the 1990s, the region has seen a resurgence of military takeovers recently. For instance, in 2023, a coup in Burkina Faso marked the end of a democratically elected government.
President Patrice Talon had been in power since 2016 and was expected to step down in April 2026 after the upcoming presidential elections. His preferred successor was former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, who was seen as a strong candidate. Meanwhile, opposition candidate Renaud Agbodjo was disqualified by the electoral commission due to insufficient support.
The atmosphere has been tense. In January, two of Talon’s associates received 20-year prison sentences related to an alleged coup plot. Furthermore, the legislature recently extended the presidential term from five to seven years while maintaining a limit of two terms, a move that has drawn criticism.
Social media responses to the coup attempt have been mixed. Some users express worry over the political instability, while others feel it reflects dissatisfaction with the current government. This incident reflects the broader wave of discontent across West Africa, where citizens are demanding more accountability from their leaders.
For further information on the history of coups in West Africa, you can read more at AP News.
