Benin’s interior minister, Alassane Seidou, has disclosed that the Army had thwarted an attempted coup by a small group of soldiers who said they had ousted President Patrice Talon.
Seidou said Colonel Pascal Tigri, the leader of the mutineers who seized the country’s National TV on Sunday, is on the run.
Speaking on nation TV, he said some other members of the group have been arrested as the defence and security forces in the country thwarted the attempted putsch.
Seidou said: “Early on Sunday morning, 7 December 2025, a small group of soldiers launched a mutiny aimed at destabilising the state and its institutions.
“Faced with this situation, the Beninese armed forces and their leadership, true to their oath, remained committed to the republic. Their response allowed them to retain control of the situation and foil the attempt.
“The government therefore urges the population to go about their activities as normal.”
Military personnel in Benin had earlier announced that they had ousted Talon, although his entourage said he was safe and the army was regaining control.
Soldiers calling themselves the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR), said on state television that they had met and decided that “Mr Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic”.
But Talon’s entourage said Talon, who has been president of the west African nation for 10 years and is due to step down in April, was safe.
“This is a small group of people who only control the television. The regular army is regaining control. The city and the country are completely secure,” his office told AFP
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