By Joe Udo
COTONOU (CONVERSEER) – Reports from Beninese media suggest that an attempted coup d’état has been underway in Cotonou since the early hours of Sunday, 7 December 2025, heightening uncertainty across Benin’s commercial capital.
According to updates from TchadOne, armed military personnel attacked President Patrice Talon’s residence in the Le Guézo neighbourhood at dawn. The operation was reportedly led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, a senior officer believed to have coordinated the assault with a faction of loyal troops.
By mid-morning, Tigri appeared on national television—now said to be under military control—declaring himself “chairman of the military re-establishment committee.” His televised address signalled the clearest indication yet that a coordinated military takeover was in progress.
The situation in Cotonou remains highly unstable. Witnesses and local media report the movement of troops around several strategic points in the city, raising fears of armed clashes. TchadOne announced that it would provide minute-by-minute updates as developments continue.
As of the time of reporting, President Talon and his government have not issued any official statement regarding the attack or the broader security situation. It remains unclear whether the president is safe or if loyal forces are preparing a counter-response.
This latest unrest comes amid a troubling pattern of coups and attempted takeovers across West Africa, deepening regional concerns over the weakening of democratic institutions.
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In neighbouring Guinea-Bissau, army generals seized power in November 2025, halting a presidential election and detaining President Umaro Sissoco Embaló. General Horta Inta-A was installed as head of a one-year transitional government, prompting condemnation from ECOWAS and leading Nigeria to offer asylum to opposition candidate Fernando Dias da Costa.
Mali continues to struggle with political instability following its 2020 and 2021 coups. Tensions escalated in August 2025 after the junta announced it had foiled another coup attempt and arrested senior officers alongside a French national. Elections remain indefinitely postponed, political parties are still banned, and the transitional government faces growing pressure over governance and security.
In Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s administration confronted a foiled coup attempt in April 2025, with officials accusing some senior officers of collaborating with terrorist groups. The junta has since introduced sweeping reforms, including moves to reinstate the death penalty for treason and terrorism, in an effort to reinforce control amid persistent internal divisions and deteriorating security.
Niger Republic, which experienced a coup in July 2023, also remains under military rule. President Mohamed Bazoum was detained by the presidential guard, and General Abdourahamane Tchiani assumed leadership. ECOWAS sanctions, economic pressure, and shifting diplomatic relations have shaped the country’s trajectory, while public protests in Niamey reflect divided sentiments about military governance and foreign influence.
The attempted coup in Benin now adds to a growing list of political upheavals across the region, raising fresh concerns about stability, governance, and security in West Africa.
