An apparent attempt to attack Benin was thwarted, the Interior Minister said

The scene that was declared in Benin on Sunday has been “brought down” by loyal soldiers, the Minister of State for West Africa said in a video on Facebook.

“In the morning of Sunday, December 7, 2025, a small group of soldiers launched a mutiny with the aim of bringing down the regime and its institutions,” said Alassane Seidou. “Faced with this situation, the armed forces of Benin and their leaders, true to their oath, remain dedicated to the Republic.”

Earlier on Sunday, a group of soldiers appeared on Benin’s State TV to announce the collapse of the government on a visible scale, the latest of many in West Africa.

This group, which called itself a military promotion committee, announced the removal of Peterric Talon and all the institutions of the State. Lt. Khol. Pascal Tigri was appointed President of the military committee, said the military.

Shortly afterwards, eyewitnesses told CBBS News in partnership with the BBC that they had heard gunfire and that other journalists and a state broadcaster were being held hostage.

The French ambassador in Benin said in a press conference that other gunshots were reported near the President’s residence in the town of Cotonou. The Russian Embassy in Benin urged its citizens to stay indoors for their own safety.

The US embassy has urged its citizens to stay away from Cotonou, especially the area around the presidential compound, after reports of gunfire and military activity.

While there was no official news about Talon as the gunshots were heard, a presidential adviser told the BBC that the President was safe and at the French Embassy.

The signal on state television and public radio, which was cut off, has now been restored. It was not immediately clear what happened to the military group.

After its independence from France in 1960, the West African country experienced many coups, especially in the following decades. Since 1991, the country has been stable under the political rule of the Marxist-Leninist Mathieu Kéréou.

The regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), criticized the narrow reading of the statement.

“Ecowas strongly condemns this undesirable move which represents the decline of the will of the people of Benin.

Talon has been in power since 2016 and was forced to step down the following April after the presidential election.

Talon’s party choice, former Minister of Finance Rouald Wadagni, is the favorite to win the election. Opposition representative Agbodjo was rejected by the Electoral Commission on the grounds that he did not have enough sponsors.

In January, two Talon associates were sentenced to 20 years in prison for the 2024 conspiracy.

Last month, the state legislature extended the President’s term of office from five to seven years, keeping the term to two.

The coup is the latest in a string of military coups that have rocked West Africa. Last month, a military coup in Guinea-Bissau ousted former President MARO Embalo after a contested election in which both he and the opposition had called.