The reported military coup in the Republic of Benin appears to be rapidly collapsing, according to an official statement from the Presidency.

President Patrice Talon is confirmed to be safe, and his office insists that the regular army is regaining control of the situation.

Speaking to AFP on Sunday, the presidency downplayed the attempt led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, who had declared himself head of the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR) on state television:

“This is a small group of people who only control the television,” the presidency stated.

The office emphasized that the government remains fully in charge:

“The regular army is regaining control. The city and the country are completely secure.”

Recall that military officers in the Benin Republic had claimed to have taken control of the federal government.

Naijaonpoint learnt that a group of soldiers on Sunday Morning, December 7, 2025, announced the dissolution of the current government during a national broadcast.

The group, which labels itself the Military Committee for Refoundation, said the president, all political officeholders, and all state institutions have been effectively removed.

The Benin Republic president, Patrice Talon, had been in office since 2016 and has promised to leave office in April 2026 after the presidential poll.

In September 2024, the commander of the republican guard and head of Talon’s security, Djimon Tevoedjre, was arrested following an attempted coup.

Benin Republic is now the latest West African country to fall under the control of a military junta.