Breaking! Military Coup Overthrow President in Benin
Porto-Novo, Benin – December 7, 2025
On Sunday, December 7, 2025, the West African nation of Benin was rocked by what appears to be a military coup.
Soldiers under the command of Pascal Tigri attacked the residence of Patrice Talon in the capital, in the Le Guézo (Porto-Novo / Cotonou) area.
Shortly after, the soldiers appeared on state television and declared that President Talon had been “removed from office,” and that all state institutions had been dissolved. Lt.-Col. Pascal Tigri was announced as head of the new military committee tasked with taking control of the state.
They also announced the suspension of the constitution and closed the country’s land, air and maritime borders. Despite the announcement, government sources contacted by AFP have denied that the coup has succeeded fully: they claim that some loyal forces are “regaining control.”
A government spokesperson reportedly declared the city secure and said the coup plotters had only seized the television station not the presidential offices or residence.
However, evidence on the ground paints a far more different picture. As of this writing, borders remain closed, media signals remain disrupted, and gunfire has been reported across multiple districts in Cotonou. The capital is tense, with a heavy military presence.
The coup comes at a time when West and Central Africa are experiencing a cascade of military interventions.
Analysts note that the region’s institutions long presented as democratic but widely criticized as hollow and compromised are facing renewed scrutiny from increasingly frustrated populations.
The situation in Benin mirrors recent events in neighboring states, where military leaders seized power amid deepening insecurity, governance failures, and widespread public disillusionment with political elites.
Beninese critics argue that Western-backed democratic models have been “hijacked by political criminals,” enabling corruption, weakening state authority, and worsening terrorism across the region in the name of democracy.
West Africa has seen successive coups in recent years. Another successful overthrow could further strengthen the regional alliance of the different military governments in the region, embolden other militaries, while further weakening Western influence in the region.
Regional bodies such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union are expected to issue formal responses. However, many observers doubt either organization will intervene decisively, given their recent track record and declining credibility among citizens of the region.
Further statements are anticipated from the military leadership in the coming hours and days. What remains clear is that Benin has entered a critical and uncertain moment, one that could reshape the nation’s political future, redefine its alliances, and alter the trajectory of governance in the region for years to come.
