Around a dozen soldiers have been arrested in Benin following Sunday’s attempted coup, including the alleged ringleaders, military and security sources told AFP. One source said 13 arrests had been made, with all detainees in active service except one former soldier.
The attempted coup began early Sunday when a group of soldiers calling themselves the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR) announced on state television that President Patrice Talon had been removed from office.
The group cited deteriorating security in northern Benin, neglect of families of fallen soldiers, and alleged unfair promotions. Shortly after the announcement, sources close to Talon assured the public that the president was safe and that the regular army was regaining control.
Mutiny
Interior Minister Alassane Seidou described the events as “a mutiny with the aim of destabilising the country and its institutions.” He added, “Faced with this situation, the Beninese Armed Forces and their leadership maintained control and foiled the attempt.”
The African Union condemned the attempted coup in a statement on Sunday, urging all actors involved to return to their barracks. AU Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf called on the soldiers to “immediately cease all unlawful actions… and return without delay to their legitimate barracks and professional obligations.” ECOWAS also condemned the action as “unconstitutional” and a subversion of the will of the Beninese people.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian military deployed fighter aircraft to Benin following the attempted coup, security sources confirmed. The aircraft, which took off from Lagos on Sunday, were observed operating within Beninese airspace as Nigeria intensified surveillance of the unfolding situation. A senior security official told Zagazola Makama, “The aircraft have already arrived in Benin Republic. Nigeria is closely monitoring developments and evaluating potential risks.” He stressed that the operation was not offensive but a strategic effort to safeguard regional security and national interests.
By Sunday afternoon, soldiers were reported to be blocking access to the presidency, state television, and other key districts in Cotonou. However, the airport and most parts of the city remained accessible, with no military presence observed beyond those areas.
The attempted coup comes amid a broader pattern of political instability in West Africa. Over the past five years, coups or attempted coups have taken place in Mali, Guinea, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gabon, Madagascar, and Guinea-Bissau, underscoring the region’s persistent challenges to constitutional rule.
President Talon, 67, a former businessman known as the “cotton king of Cotonou,” is expected to hand over power in April 2026 at the end of his second term. While he is credited with driving economic growth, critics accuse his administration of authoritarian tendencies.
Security operations continue in Benin as authorities work to stabilise Cotonou and reassert full control over military and civil institutions.
