Benin’s government says “casualties occurred on both sides” during Sunday’s attempted coup, which was quashed within hours but has heightened concerns about rising instability across West Africa. Security forces are now searching for the coup’s alleged mastermind, Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, who remains on the run. According to Government Secretary Edouard Ouin-Ouro, mutinous soldiers attacked President Patrice Talon around 5 a.m. Sunday, but were repelled by loyal troops. Authorities say Nigerian and Ivorian forces assisted, with Nigeria deploying military aircraft that disabled armored vehicles used by the mutineers.
Several soldiers have been arrested, and two senior officers who were taken hostage were later freed. Officials have not confirmed how many people were killed or injured. A formal investigation has been launched to identify all those involved and assess the damage. The coup unfolded when a group calling itself the Committee for Refoundation seized the national broadcaster and announced Talon’s removal, the suspension of state institutions, and the installation of a military administration. Tigri—formerly part of the president’s security detail and an artillery officer who commanded a National Guard battalion from 2023 to 2025—appeared to lead the announcement.
By midday, Benin’s military, backed by Nigerian air and ground units, had regained control. Calm returned to the capital, Cotonou, on Monday, with soldiers patrolling key areas. President Talon condemned the attempt as a “senseless adventure” and vowed that all perpetrators would face justice. ECOWAS announced it had deployed a standby force to safeguard Benin’s democratic order. The force reportedly includes troops from Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Sierra Leone, though the bloc has not given specific numbers. Nigeria confirmed it responded directly at Talon’s request.
Analysts say Nigeria’s intervention reflects growing concern over regional instability. The country already faces severe security challenges at home and is wary of coups in neighboring states following disruptions in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali. Experts note that ECOWAS has been inconsistent in its responses to recent coups, stepping in decisively in some cases while remaining passive in others. Still, Benin had been considered one of West Africa’s more stable democracies over the past two decades. The nation is set to elect a new president in April, with Talon ending his decade in office.
