Heavy shooting shook central Cotonou on Saturday after a group of soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri announced that they had taken control of Benin and removed President Patrice Talon from power. The group, presenting itself as the Military Committee for Refoundation, appeared on the national broadcaster, declaring that the constitution had been suspended, all state institutions dissolved and all borders shut.
The announcement came shortly after armed clashes near the president’s residence and a military base. According to reports, gunfire was also heard around Marina Palace, deepening fears of a major security breakdown in a country once considered one of West Africa’s most stable democracies.
Diplomatic missions, including those of France and Russia, warned their citizens to remain indoors. The US embassy urged Americans to avoid the city centre, especially the area around the presidential compound.
However, officials close to President Talon dismissed the rebel soldiers’ declaration, insisting that the situation was being contained. Foreign Minister Shegun Adjadi Bakari said the majority of the army remained loyal and that government forces were already moving to reclaim the national broadcaster. Another official from the presidency described the mutineers as a small group that only seized the television station and did not have wider military backing.
Security sources later confirmed that reinforcement units were advancing toward the captured broadcaster as loyalist troops worked to restore order.
The attempted seizure of power comes at a tense time, just months before President Talon is expected to leave office in 2026 after completing his second term. His administration has faced criticism for limiting political freedoms and tightening election rules, sparking frustration across the country.
The unrest in Benin follows a troubling pattern of military takeovers across West Africa, including recent coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and, most recently, Guinea-Bissau. Lieutenant Colonel Tigri and his group justified their actions by accusing President Talon of mismanaging national affairs and promised to establish a military transition council.
President Talon, 67, first came to power in 2016 and had previously assured the nation he would not seek a third term. Despite being credited with economic growth, his critics accuse him of silencing opposition voices and narrowing political space.
As loyalist forces push back and the situation continues to shift, the future of Benin remains uncertain, with citizens anxiously waiting to see whether the attempted takeover will collapse or escalate into a wider conflict.