Benin’s government has successfully suppressed a military mutiny after rebel soldiers attempted to seize power in the West African nation on Sunday. The crisis unfolded when armed insurgents stormed the national television station, appearing on state broadcasts to declare their takeover while gunfire erupted near the presidential residence in Cotonou.
President Patrice Talon confirmed the situation was ‘totally under control’ following intervention by regional ally Nigeria, whose fighter jets assisted in dislodging coup plotters from strategic locations. The operation included targeted airstrikes in Benin’s largest city, where substantial explosions were reported throughout Sunday afternoon.
Government spokesperson Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji disclosed that 14 individuals have been apprehended in connection with the attempted overthrow, including 12 who assaulted the television station headquarters. Among those detained is a previously dismissed soldier, while the alleged ringleader, Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, remains at large with an unknown number of hostages.
In his national address, President Talon commended loyalist forces for clearing ‘the last pockets of resistance’ and vowed that ‘this treachery will not go unpunished.’ The 67-year-old leader expressed condolences to victims affected by the violence while reassuring citizens that stability had been restored.
The coup attempt reflects broader regional instability, occurring just one week after Guinea-Bissau’s presidential overthrow. Benin had previously been regarded as one of Africa’s more stable democracies despite recent criticisms of Talon’s authoritarian tendencies and suppression of political opposition.
Rebel soldiers justified their actions by citing grievances over national security deterioration along Benin’s northern border with Niger and Burkina Faso, where jihadist militants have expanded their influence. Additional complaints included inadequate support for military families, healthcare reductions, and recent tax increases.
International responses included condemnations from ECOWAS and the African Union, while foreign embassies issued security alerts advising citizens to avoid Cotonou’s government district. The incident highlights growing regional security challenges as military regimes gain traction in neighboring Sahel states.