- Benin Republic Soldiers Stage Coup, Take Over National TV.
- Lieutenant Colonel Tigri declared himself leader on Benin’s national TV.
- Crisis adds to rising wave of coups destabilising West Africa.
Reports from Cotonou indicate that a coup attempt is underway in Benin Republic after armed soldiers attacked the residence of President Patrice Talon and seized control of the national television station early Sunday, December 7, 2025.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that according to Beninese outlet TchadOne, the attack took place at President Talon’s home in the Le Guézo neighbourhood and was reportedly led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri.
By mid-morning, Tigri appeared on national television, which the military is said to have taken over, declaring himself “chairman of the military re-establishment committee.”
The situation across the capital remains tense, with heavy troop movements observed around key locations in Cotonou as events continue to unfold. TchadOne has pledged to provide continuous updates as the crisis develops.
No official response has been issued by President Talon or his government regarding the assault on his residence or the announcement made on state TV.
The attempted takeover comes amid a troubling pattern of coups across West Africa in recent years. Regional instability has grown following military takeovers in Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, raising concerns about the erosion of democratic governance across the subregion.
In November 2025, Guinea-Bissau experienced another major upheaval when senior army officers seized power on the eve of a presidential election, detaining President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and suspending the vote.
Mali’s junta has also faced recurring internal threats since its 2020 and 2021 coups, while Burkina Faso under Captain Ibrahim Traoré has grappled with attempted counter-coups and worsening insecurity.
Niger remains under military rule following the 2023 overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum.
Regional bodies such as ECOWAS have struggled to reverse the trend, as growing public discontent, economic hardship, and insecurity continue to fuel support for military intervention in several countries.
