Benin's Coup Attempt Foiled: President Reassures Citizens

Mon Dec 08 2025 15:37:41 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a tense day for Benin, President Patrice Talon has assured the nation that an attempted coup was successfully thwarted by loyal military forces, ensuring stability amid fears of escalating political unrest.

Benin's President Patrice Talon addressed the nation following a thwarted coup attempt, emphasizing the loyalty and efficacy of the military. Explosions were reported in Cotonou, accompanied by a show of force from loyalist troops. The army has arrested 14 individuals connected to the coup, raising concerns over the political climate in the region, which has seen a rise in military takeovers. Despite previous stability, Talon’s government has faced criticism for suppressing dissent.

Benin's president has appeared on television to reassure citizens of the West African nation that the situation was now 'totally under control' following an attempted coup earlier in the day.

I would like to commend the sense of duty demonstrated by our army and its leaders, who have remained... loyal to the nation, Patrice Talon said, looking calm during the live evening broadcast.

The government said it had thwarted the mutiny hours after a group of soldiers declared a takeover on national television. Later in the afternoon, huge explosions were heard in Cotonou, Benin's largest city and seat of government. They were thought to have been the result of an air strike.

Prior to the explosions, flight-tracking data showed that three aircraft had entered Benin's airspace from neighbouring Nigeria before returning home. A spokesman for Nigeria's president confirmed that its fighter jets had gone in to 'take over the airspace to help dislodge the coup plotters.'

There have been a series of coups in West Africa before Sunday's thwarted attempt in Benin, raising fears about regional security. Talon has faced accusations of suppressing dissenting voices in a country that has been described as a stability emblem in Africa.

The 67-year-old president mentioned that loyalist forces had 'cleared the last pockets of resistance' held by the mutineers and that, amidst the chaos, 14 individuals had been arrested in connection with the coup.

Eyewitnesses revealed that gunfire was audible near the presidential residence as the coup plotters announced their intentions. French and Russian embassies urged their citizens to stay indoors, while regional bodies like Ecowas expressed condemnation of the coup attempt.

Despite the government's push for stability, unrest persists as many citizens remain cautious about the safety and security of democracy in the region.