Benin Republic’s government says its armed forces have stopped an attempted coup after a group of soldiers appeared on state television claiming they had seized power.
The development marks another moment of tension in a region already shaken by repeated military takeovers.
Okay News reports that the incident unfolded early Sunday and led to brief unrest in parts of Cotonou, the country’s largest city.
During the broadcast, they announced the dissolution of national institutions, the suspension of the constitution and the closure of the country’s air, land and maritime borders.
“The army solemnly commits to give the Beninese people the hope of a truly new era, where fraternity, justice and work prevail,” one of the soldiers said while reading their statement.
However, Interior Minister Alassane Seidou later issued a counter statement saying the plot had failed. According to him, the mutiny began early on Sunday and was quickly contained by loyal forces.
“In the early morning of Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, a small group of soldiers launched a mutiny with the aim of destabilizing the state and its institutions,” Seidou said.
“Faced with this situation, the Beninese Armed Forces and their leadership, true to their oath, remained committed to the republic.”
Foreign Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari also confirmed to Reuters that “a small group” attempted to overthrow the government, but security forces aligned with President Patrice Talon were working to restore calm.
Residents in Cotonou reported hearing gunfire in several neighbourhoods early Sunday as people were heading to church. While the situation appeared tense in the morning, authorities said control had been re-established by afternoon.
The attempted coup adds to ongoing concerns about political instability in West Africa, where military juntas have taken power in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea and most recently Guinea-Bissau.
