Benin coup attempt thwarted as Nigerian jets intervene against rebels

WISE NEWS PRESS / COTONOU, BENIN — DEC. 08, 2025

Benin President Patrice Talon announced that a military coup attempt has been thwarted and the situation is now "fully under control" following a day of unrest that saw rebels seize the state broadcaster.

A group of soldiers appeared on national television early Sunday to declare the suspension of the constitution, but the government later confirmed that loyalist forces had suppressed the insurrection.

Government Response and Arrests

In a national address hours after the initial uprising, President Talon thanked the "loyal" officers of the army for their dedication to duty. While no official death toll has been released regarding the events of Dec. 7, Talon expressed condolences to the "victims of this senseless adventure" and those still held by fleeing rebels.

"Our determination and mobilization allowed us to defeat the opportunists and prevent a catastrophe for our country. This treason will not go unpunished," Talon stated.

Government spokesman Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji told Reuters that 14 individuals had been arrested in connection with the plot. A journalist in Benin reported to the BBC that 12 of those detained were believed to be the soldiers who stormed the state television station.

Nigerian Intervention and Air Strikes

Witnesses reported heavy explosions in Cotonou, the country's largest city and seat of government, on Sunday afternoon, which were believed to be air strikes. Flight tracking sites detected three aircraft from neighboring Nigeria entering Benin's airspace before returning.

A spokesman for the Nigerian President confirmed that warplanes intervened to address the situation. The spokesman stated the mission aimed to "remove the coup plotters from national television and the military camp where they were regrouping" by securing the airspace. Nigeria described the attempt as a "direct attack on democracy."

Rebel Demands and Regional Context

The rebel soldiers, led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, attempted to justify their actions by criticizing Talon's governance and his handling of the deteriorating security situation on the northern border. The army has suffered losses in recent years due to the southward expansion of jihadist militants linked to ISIS and Al-Qaeda from Niger and Burkina Faso.

In their statement, the coup plotters claimed that the families of "brothers in arms who fell at the front" had been abandoned. They also cited cuts to healthcare, the cancellation of state aid for dialysis patients, tax increases, and restrictions on political activities as reasons for the uprising.

Once considered one of Africa's most stable democracies, Benin has faced criticism under Talon for allegedly suppressing opposition voices. The coup attempt follows a similar incident in Guinea-Bissau last week and a series of military takeovers across West Africa, including in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

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