Benin Foils Dawn Coup as Government Regains Control

Benin was thrown into turmoil early Sunday after a group of soldiers seized the state broadcaster and announced that they had removed the government.

But within hours, loyal security forces retook key installations and declared the attempted coup defeated, restoring a fragile sense of order across the country. The events briefly shook the image of Benin as one of West Africa’s historically stable democracies.

The crisis began before sunrise when armed soldiers entered the national television station and forced staff to broadcast a statement claiming President Patrice Talon had been ousted. The mutineers, calling themselves the Military Committee for Refoundation, accused the government of neglecting troops fighting insecurity in the north — a region increasingly affected by instability spreading from the wider Sahel.

Gunfire was heard around Camp Guézo and near the presidential residence, prompting confusion as broadcast signals went off air. Authorities later said the uprising involved only a small group of soldiers and insisted that the military command structure remained loyal to the Constitution.

By mid-morning, loyalist troops regained control of the broadcaster and arrested fourteen soldiers linked to the mutiny.

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President Talon addressed the nation shortly afterward, calling the attempt an act of betrayal and assuring citizens that he was safe. He promised full accountability for those who tried to “destabilize the Republic.”

Regional bodies reacted quickly. The Economic Community of West African States condemned the attempted coup and reaffirmed its opposition to unconstitutional changes of government. The African Union issued a similar statement urging calm and encouraging Beninese institutions to protect democratic order.

For Benin, the failed coup highlights deeper tensions tied to security pressure in the north and political expectations ahead of the 2026 election. Officials have urged citizens to resume normal activities while investigations continue and security forces maintain heightened vigilance around strategic locations.