On the morning of December 7, military personnel in Bénin declared on state television that they had « removed » President Patrice Talon from office. However, sources close to the president quickly confirmed his safety and stated that the armed forces were re-establishing authority.
President Talon was scheduled to conclude his tenure and transfer power in this small West African coastal nation, known for its robust economic development but grappling with jihadist violence in its northern regions, during the upcoming presidential elections in April. The West African sub-region has witnessed a surge in military takeovers since the start of the decade, including incidents in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Guinea, and most recently, in late November, in Guinée-Bissau.
On Sunday, a faction of the military, identifying itself as the « Comité militaire pour la refondation » (CMR), announced the « removal » of Patrice Talon from his presidential duties via Bénin’s public television network. The broadcast signal for the state channel was subsequently interrupted later that morning.
Swiftly following the military’s declaration, an insider close to Patrice Talon confirmed the president’s safety and asserted that the national army was re-establishing full authority. This source described the instigators as « a small faction whose influence was limited to the television broadcast. The regular army is restoring order. The capital (Cotonou) and the entire nation are completely secure ».
On Sunday morning, the French Embassy issued an alert via X (formerly Twitter), reporting « gunshots detected near the residence of the President of the Republic » in Cotonou. The embassy urged French nationals to remain indoors « as a precautionary security measure ».
A military insider further corroborated that the situation was « under control », emphasizing that the attempted coup plotters had failed to seize « either the head of state’s residence » or « the Presidential Palace. » The source added, « It is only a matter of time before full normalcy is restored. The operation to clear the area is progressing effectively ».
Restricted access to key locations
On Sunday morning, a journalist observed that military personnel had blocked access routes to the national television station and the presidential complex. Furthermore, entry to various other significant areas, including the Sofitel – a five-star hotel in the economic capital – and districts housing international institutions, was also prohibited. Despite these restrictions, there was no reported military presence at the airport or in other parts of the city, where residents continued their daily routines unaffected.
Bénin’s political past has been marked by a series of coups and attempted takeovers. President Patrice Talon, who assumed office in 2016, is set to conclude his second and constitutionally mandated final term in 2026. Notably, the leading opposition party has been excluded from the upcoming electoral contest, which is expected to feature the ruling party against a so-called « moderate » opposition figure.
While Patrice Talon receives commendation for Bénin’s economic progress, critics frequently accuse him of steering the nation towards authoritarianism, a stark contrast to its historical reputation as a beacon of democratic vitality.