Military Coup Attempt Reported In Benin Republic

By Adesina Soyooye

Nigeria’s neighbour, Benin Republic, is in crisis. An attempted Military Coup has been reported. The situation, at the time of writing this story remains fluid. And nobody quite knows who is in charge. There are claims and counter claims.

In the uncivilized hours of Sunday, December 7, 2025, a group of soldiers who identified themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundations”, MCR, declared it has taken over power and overthrown the Government of President Patrice Talon.

But a later statement said  the National Guard has quashed the Coup and returned power to the President.

The Presidency in a brief statement dismissed the coup as one carried out by soldiers without much influence. ” This is a small group of individuals who only managed to seize the television station. The regular army is steadily regaining control. Both the city and the entire country remain completely secure”, the statement reads.

The National television  is off, and the whereabouts of President Talon remain unknown.

The MCR led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, had announced on State television that Talon ” is removed from office as President of the Republic.” They, also, announced that all State institutions have been dissolved.

President Talon has been in power since 2016. He is  expected to leave office in April 2026 after a Presidential election which tye opposition hopeful Renaud Agbodjo was barred from contesting by tye Electoral Commission over a false allegation that he did not have the exact number of sponsors.

However, in November, the Lawmakers approved an extension of the Presidential mandate to seven years against five years. Meaning that Talon plans to stay in office to April 2028.

Two weeks ago, another democratic government in Guinea Bissau, was successfully sacked by the Military.