Benin's government confirmed on Monday that security forces successfully foiled an attempted coup after armed soldiers briefly appeared on national television claiming to have seized power. The group had announced the ouster of President Patrice Talon, who is scheduled to complete his constitutionally limited tenure in April 2026 after a decade in office.
Interior Minister Alassane Seidou stated that loyalist troops swiftly neutralized the threat, while the presidency assured citizens that Talon remains safe and fully in control. Foreign Minister Shegun Adjadi Bakari characterized the incident as a 'failed destabilization attempt' and emphasized normalcy would soon be restored.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) issued a strong condemnation, pledging support for constitutional order. This marks the first major political crisis in Benin since Talon's controversial 2025 electoral reforms, which opposition groups claim consolidated executive power.
Regional analysts note the attempted coup highlights growing tensions in West Africa, where military takeovers have recently occurred in neighboring nations. Markets reacted cautiously, with Benin's Eurobond yields rising slightly amid concerns about political stability in the cotton-producing nation.
