Authorities in Benin have tightened security nationwide after security forces disrupted an attempted takeover of government on Sunday, leading to the arrest of about a dozen soldiers believed to be central to the plot.
Security insiders reveal that 13 personnel linked to the operation were apprehended shortly after the coup bid collapsed.
According to a senior military source, all but one of the suspects are active members of the armed forces.
“This was a breach of oath and protocol,” the source said, stressing that the arrests were part of ongoing efforts to prevent institutional sabotage.
The incident began in the early hours of Sunday when a faction calling itself the Military Committee for Refoundation commandeered state television and declared President Patrice Talon removed from power.
Furthermore, the group accused the government of neglecting security in the northern region, mishandling the welfare of bereaved military families, and allegedly favouring certain officers for promotion.
However, sources close to the presidency maintained that President Talon was neither harmed nor unseated.
Officials confirmed that loyal troops swiftly regained control of critical installations and halted the mutiny before it gained traction.
“Order was restored with minimal disruption,” a government adviser stated, describing the plot as an “ill-conceived effort to destabilise the republic.”
Benin’s Interior Minister, Alassane Seidou, publicly condemned the event, labelling it a calculated attempt to subvert the state.
“This was a planned mutiny aimed at disrupting our democratic institutions,” Seidou said. He praised the armed forces for responding decisively to prevent potential chaos.
International organisations responded promptly. The African Union expressed firm disapproval, urging soldiers involved to abandon the coup attempt and return to professional duty.
The regional bloc ECOWAS also criticised the act, warning that unconstitutional power grabs remain an existential threat to West Africa’s political stability.
Meanwhile, Nigeria heightened its vigilance by dispatching fighter aircraft to monitor the situation across its western border.
The jets, launched from Lagos, were observed operating in Benin’s airspace to strengthen surveillance.
A senior Nigerian security official explained, “This deployment is not offensive. It is preemptive and necessary to protect regional security and national interests.”
Reports from the capital, Cotonou, indicate that soldiers initially restricted movement around the presidential complex, state broadcasting headquarters, and some strategic districts.
Despite the tension, the airport and most areas remained open, preventing widespread panic.
The upheaval adds to a concerning list of military interventions in West Africa over recent years.
Countries such as Niger, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, and Sudan have undergone similar disruptions, raising questions over the durability of democratic governance in the region.
President Talon, often credited with stimulating economic growth in Benin, has faced criticism over concerns tied to political freedoms.
The 67-year-old leader, widely known in business circles for transforming the nation’s cotton industry, is expected to leave office in 2026 at the end of his constitutionally mandated second term.
Security patrols remain active in Cotonou and other major cities as authorities continue investigations and assure citizens and partners that the country’s institutions remain intact.
The aftermath of this attempted coup is likely to spark broader regional dialogue about military intervention, governance, and the future of democracy across West Africa.