Military seizes power in Benin, announces ouster of President Talon

In a dramatic early morning assault, military forces in the Republic of Benin have launched a coup d’état, successfully removing President Patrice Talon from power, according to statements from the armed forces themselves.

The unfolding crisis began in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, when soldiers attacked the official residence of President Patrice Talon in the administrative capital, Porto-Novo. Following the initial attack, a faction of the military, led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, seized control of the national television and radio broadcasting headquarters.

From the state broadcaster’s studios, Lt. Col. Tigri read a brief statement declaring that President Talon had been “removed from office.” The televised announcement cited widespread grievances, including “grave instability caused by the regime of President Talon,” “the trampling of democratic principles,” and “the systematic impoverishment of the people,” as justifications for the military’s intervention. The statement did not detail the current whereabouts or condition of President Talon, whose status remains unknown and is a subject of intense international concern.

The sound of gunfire was reported in the vicinity of the presidential palace and key government buildings in Porto-Novo and Cotonou, the economic capital. Initial reports indicate that military checkpoints have been erected on major roads leading into both cities, and movement appears heavily restricted. Internet connectivity and telecommunications are reported to be severely disrupted or entirely shut down in a bid to control information flow.

President Patrice Talon, a former businessman first elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2021, has been a controversial figure. While credited by some for driving economic modernization, his tenure has been marred by significant political turbulence. Critics and opposition leaders have consistently accused him of undermining Benin’s once-praised democratic credentials through judicial persecution of rivals, the exclusion of major opposition parties from elections, and a tightening of press freedoms. His most recent constitutional reforms were seen by many as a move to consolidate power further.

The international community is reacting with alarm. The African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have been notified. The region has suffered several coups in recent years—in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Niger—making this latest event a severe blow to regional stability.

ECOWAS, which has a strict anti-coup protocol and has imposed heavy sanctions on other juntas, is expected to convene an emergency session.