Dozen soldiers arrested after thwarted coup in Benin

Cotonou – A dozen soldiers have been arrested in connection with a failed coup attempt in Benin on December 7, 2025. Military sources confirmed that 13 individuals, including both active-duty and former soldiers, were detained after a group of soldiers tried to overthrow President Patrice Talon’s government.

The attempt began early in the morning when the soldiers appeared on state television, declaring the removal of President Talon, closing borders, and suspending political activities. However, Benin’s armed forces quickly regained control of the situation, with Interior Minister Alassane Seidou confirming the coup attempt had been thwarted.

In a video statement, Seidou reassured the population that the military remained loyal to the state and its institutions. He urged citizens to carry on with their daily activities, stressing that the situation was under control.

The coup attempt comes as Benin faces political tensions ahead of the upcoming presidential elections in April 2026. Talon, who has been in power since 2016, is set to step down at the end of his second term, in accordance with the constitution. His government recently passed a controversial constitutional amendment extending the presidential mandate from five to seven years, a move critics have described as a power grab.

In response to the unrest, international embassies in Cotonou issued travel warnings. The US Embassy advised citizens to avoid Cotonou and surrounding areas, especially near the presidential compound, while the French Embassy reported gunfire near the presidential residence and urged French nationals to stay indoors until the situation was fully clarified. Russia’s Embassy also recommended its citizens remain at home and take basic precautions.

This political crisis follows increasing violence in Benin, linked to militant groups from neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso. Earlier in 2025, 54 soldiers were killed in an attack by an al-Qaeda affiliate in northern Benin, highlighting the broader security challenges facing the country.