COTONOU, Benin – The government of Benin has successfully suppressed a military uprising aimed at overthrowing President Patrice Talon’s administration, according to an official statement released Sunday by Interior Minister Alassane Seidou.
The crisis unfolded when a faction of soldiers identifying as the ‘Military Committee for the Refoundation’ (CMR) seized control of the state broadcaster Benin TV and announced the president’s removal from office. The attempted mutiny triggered immediate security responses throughout the capital region.
Minister Seidou confirmed that loyalist armed forces, ‘faithful to their oath,’ effectively contained the situation through republican measures. Government authorities have urged citizens to maintain normal activities while security operations continue.
Eyewitness accounts from Cotonou residents described heightened military presence at strategic intersections, though daily life continued with markets remaining operational. Military helicopters conducted aerial patrols over the city while ground forces established secure perimeters around government installations.
The epicenter of the confrontation occurred at Camp Guezo, located near the presidential residence, where exchanges of gunfire were reported. Despite initial rebel claims of controlling state media, government forces successfully reclaimed these facilities.
President Talon’s safety was confirmed by the presidency, with Economy Minister Romuald Wadagni characterizing the situation as ‘under control’ during an interview with Jeune Afrique. ‘The mutineers are trapped,’ Wadagni stated. ‘We are clearing the area, but it is not over yet.’
This instability emerges against Benin’s historical backdrop as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies since its 1960 independence from France. The nation maintained consistent political stability following Mathieu Kerekou’s two-decade rule that ended in 1991.
President Talon, initially elected in 2016 and reelected in 2021, was scheduled to conclude his term after April 2026 elections. Recent constitutional amendments extended presidential terms from five to seven years while maintaining the two-term limit.
The attempted coup coincides with regional instability, following November’s military takeover in Guinea-Bissau that ousted President Umaro Embalo after contested election results.