Benin government says attempted coup has been foiled

Benin’s interior minister has gone on national television to announce that an attempted coup in the West African country has been successfully thwarted.

Earlier, a group of soldiers led by Lt-Col Pascal Tigri had broadcast a statement claiming they had overthrown President Patrice Talon and suspended the constitution.

In posts on social media, the French embassy in Benin reported gunfire near the president’s residence in Cotonou, the country’s main city and seat of government. Eyewitnesses told the BBC they heard gunshots, while some journalists at the state broadcaster were reportedly taken hostage.

A presidential adviser later confirmed to the BBC that President Talon is safe and currently at the French embassy.

Interior Minister Alassane Seidou said the unrest began in the early hours of Sunday, December 7, 2025, when a small group of soldiers launched what he described as a mutiny intended to destabilise the state and its institutions.

He added that the armed forces and their leadership remained loyal to the republic, enabling them to regain control and foil the attempt. The government has urged citizens to continue with their normal activities.

Meanwhile, helicopters have been seen patrolling the skies over Cotonou, with several roads blocked amid a heavy military presence.

Benin, a former French colony, is widely regarded as one of Africa’s more stable democracies. Although it is among the continent’s leading cotton producers, it remains one of the world’s poorest countries.