Military personnel in Benin on Sunday claimed they had carried out a coup and removed President Patrice Talon from office, though sources close to the president insist he is safe and that loyal security forces are steadily regaining control. Talon, 67, a former businessman widely known as the “cotton king of Cotonou,” is scheduled to leave office in April next year after ten years in power—years marked by solid economic growth but increasing jihadist violence in parts of the country.
The announcement comes amid a growing trend of military takeovers in West Africa, with recent coups in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau. In the early hours of Sunday, December 7, soldiers identifying themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundation” appeared on state television, declaring that “Mr. Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic.” The broadcast was abruptly cut later in the morning, raising further tension.
However, a source close to the presidency told AFP that Talon remained secure. “This is a small group that only managed to seize the television station. The regular army is taking back control. Cotonou and the entire country remain safe,” the source said. “It’s only a matter of time before normalcy returns. The clean-up operation is progressing well.” A military official also confirmed that the situation was “under control” and that the coup group had failed to seize the president’s residence or his official offices.
The French Embassy in Cotonou reported gunfire near Camp Guezo, close to Talon’s official residence, and urged French nationals to stay indoors. Benin, despite achieving decades of relative stability, has a long history of coups and attempted coups, making Sunday’s events particularly alarming for regional observers.
Talon, first elected in 2016, is serving his second and final term, which constitutionally ends in 2026. His presidency has been shaped by economic reforms and infrastructure development, though critics frequently accuse him of authoritarian governance. With the main opposition excluded from the succession race, the ruling party is expected to face only a so-called moderate opposition in the next election cycle.
