Benin’s military on Monday continued a wide-ranging search for soldiers who escaped after a failed weekend coup that left several people dead, even as neighbouring West African countries mobilised to support the government.
According to security sources loyal to the government, at least a dozen suspected coup plotters have already been arrested, and all hostages — including senior military officers — were freed by Monday.
Cotonou, the country’s economic hub, was calm by midday, with normal traffic flow restored. This followed the dramatic events on Sunday, when a group of soldiers briefly appeared on national television claiming to have removed President Patrice Talon from power.
President Talon later addressed the nation on Sunday night, assuring citizens that the situation was “completely under control.” The 67-year-old leader is expected to leave office in April after completing the constitutional limit of two terms. His presidency has been overshadowed in recent years by growing jihadist threats in northern Benin.
The attempted takeover adds to a troubling pattern of military coups across West Africa, including in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and more recently, Guinea-Bissau.
Government officials reported “violent clashes” between the mutineers and the Republican Guard at the president’s residence in Cotonou. Casualties were recorded on both sides, including the tragic death of the wife of General Bertin Bada, the president’s military chief of staff.
In response to an urgent call for assistance, Nigeria confirmed that it conducted military operations in Cotonou on Sunday and deployed troops to support Benin’s government. ECOWAS also announced the deployment of forces from Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone to help safeguard Benin’s constitutional order. However, a scheduled ECOWAS meeting in Abidjan on Monday was unexpectedly cancelled.
A military source told AFP that the number of individuals involved in the coup plot remains unclear, and many suspects are believed to have fled into rural areas. Other sources indicated that while several arrests were made, the alleged leader — Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri — remains at large.
Two top-ranking officers, Chief of Army Staff Abou Issa and Colonel Faizou Gomina, who were held hostage during the unrest, were liberated overnight.
In his national address, President Talon said the nation had “stood firm” and successfully “cleared the last pockets of resistance.” Security remained visible in Cotonou on Monday, with military tanks stationed in parts of the city and restricted access to the presidential residence.
International organisations — including the United Nations, France, and the African Union — joined ECOWAS in condemning the attempted coup.
Benin is preparing for its April presidential election, where Talon’s preferred successor, Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, is seen as a leading contender. The main opposition party, the Democrats, has been barred from participating after its candidate failed to secure the necessary sponsorships.
In a statement Monday, the party strongly condemned the coup attempt and called for all political actors to “prioritise dialogue” for the sake of national stability.
Although President Talon is credited with driving economic growth, critics accuse him of tightening political space in a country once regarded as a model of democratic vibrancy. Benin has experienced multiple coups and attempted coups since independence from France in 1960.
