Soldiers Appear on Benin TV Claiming Control, Government Says Otherwise
A group of soldiers went on state television in Benin on Sunday claiming to have seized power, suspended the constitution and closed borders, while the government said forces loyal to President Patrice Talon had largely regained control and the president was safe. The episode raises political uncertainty ahead of an April 2026 presidential vote and poses immediate risks to investor confidence, trade flows and regional stability in the West and Central African CFA currency zone.
At least eight soldiers, several wearing helmets, appeared on Benin state television on Sunday to announce that a military committee led by Colonel Tigri Pascal had taken power, suspended the constitution and dissolved state institutions. The soldiers said the takeover aimed to give the Beninese people "the hope of a truly new era, where fraternity, justice and work prevail." They also said the country's borders were closed.
Gunfire was reported in parts of Cotonou, including near the president's residence, as the scenes unfolded. The government later said forces loyal to President Patrice Talon had moved to foil the coup plot, that they had regained control of most strategic installations and that the president was safe. Details remained fluid late on Sunday as local authorities and security services assessed the situation.
The apparent coup attempt comes less than five months before a presidential election scheduled for April 2026 that would mark the scheduled end of Talon's tenure. Mr. Talon's ruling coalition has already nominated Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni as its candidate. The timing and the public nature of the challenge highlight the fragility of political transitions in the region and add to uncertainty around an electoral calendar that international observers and investors will be watching closely.
Benin is a country of about 13 million people and a trade dependent economy whose main gateway is the port of Cotonou. Interruptions to security there can quickly affect customs revenues, informal cross border trade and shipments that move through the regional transport network. The country is also a member of the West African CFA franc monetary union, which is pegged to the euro through the regional central bank. Political shocks of this kind typically put pressure on investor sentiment across the monetary union and can lead to capital flight, tighter domestic credit conditions and higher borrowing costs for sovereign and corporate debt.
The episode sits within a broader pattern of military interventions across parts of West and Central Africa since 2020, a sequence that has strained regional institutions and complicated foreign investment decisions. Historically the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union have condemned unconstitutional changes of government and at times imposed sanctions, measures that further compress economic activity and investor appetite when they are implemented.
Markets may not yet have reflected the full implications of Sunday’s events, but the immediate risk profile is clear. Disruption to trade through Cotonou could slow customs receipts and foreign exchange inflows. A prolonged political standoff would raise the probability of credit downgrades and higher yields on regional sovereign bonds, while banks operating in Benin could face deposit withdrawals that reduce lending to households and businesses.
For now the government’s claim of regaining control is the dominant narrative. Authorities face the near term task of restoring security, clarifying the status of presidential succession and reassuring domestic and international investors. How regional partners respond, and whether any further military elements mobilize, will determine whether this episode remains a contained security breach or evolves into a wider crisis with lasting economic consequences.
