The Benin Republic presidency has assured that President Patrice Talon remains secure and that loyal security forces are working to restore order, following an early-morning announcement of a coup by a faction of soldiers on Sunday.
The New Daily Prime reported earlier that military officers in Benin Republic had seized power, declaring the federal government dissolved in a televised broadcast on Sunday.
The soldiers, who identified themselves as the Military Committee for Refoundation, said the president and all political officeholders had been removed from office. They also announced the dissolution of all state institutions.
Gunfire was reported around the president’s residence, while armoured personnel carriers were seen moving around the presidential compound as security operations intensified.
Talon, who has led the country since 2016, previously stated he would step down in April 2026 after the next presidential election.
The incident comes roughly a year after the arrest of Djimon Tevoedjre, then commander of the Republican Guard and a key figure in Talon’s security structure, over an alleged coup plot in September 2024.
In its response on Sunday, the presidency downplayed the legitimacy of the group behind the takeover announcement, describing them as “a small group of people who only control the television”. It added that the “regular army is regaining control” and insisted that “the city and the country are completely secure”.
Benin now joins a growing list of West African countries under military control. Just last month, Guinea-Bissau’s armed forces took charge following a disputed election in which both President Umaro Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias claimed victory before official results were published.
Burkina Faso in 2022, Guinea in 2021, Mali in 2020, and Niger in 2023, have also experienced coups in recent years, marking a continued trend of democratic backsliding across the region.
