Benin Military Group Declares Removal of President Talon in Televised Announcement
COTONOU – Political tensions escalated sharply in Benin on Sunday after a Benin military group calling itself the Military Committee for Refoundation (CMR) appeared on state television to announce that President Patrice Talon had been removed from office. The declaration, delivered by uniformed soldiers, immediately sent shock waves through the West African nation, though government officials close to Talon insisted the president remained safe and that loyalist forces were restoring order.
According to the soldiers’ televised statement, the CMR had convened and reached the decision that “Mr. Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic.” The group did not provide detailed reasoning for the move, but their message carried all the hallmarks of a military takeover attempt, raising alarm both domestically and internationally.
The announcement comes at a time of heightened instability across West Africa, where several countries have experienced political turbulence and military coups in recent years. Benin had long been considered relatively stable, but Sunday’s events revived memories of its earlier history of political upheaval.
Emergence of the Benin Military Group on State Television
The sudden appearance of the Benin military group on national airwaves raised immediate questions about the extent of their actual control. Shortly after the statement aired, the French Embassy reported on X that “gunfire was reported at Camp Guezo,” a military installation located near President Talon’s official residence in Cotonou. The embassy advised French nationals to stay indoors until the situation became clearer.
Government sources close to Talon quickly tried to quell growing fears. A spokesperson from the presidency told AFP that the president, who has governed Benin for nearly a decade, was secure. “This is a small group of people who only control the television. The regular army is regaining control. The city and the country are completely secure,” the official said. According to the presidency, the alleged mutineers had not gained significant territorial or military advantage beyond the state broadcaster’s compound.
Still, the appearance of armed soldiers making political announcements on national television has raised concerns about internal divisions within Benin’s armed forces. Analysts have noted that even limited mutinies can pose serious risks to national stability if not swiftly contained.
The dramatic declaration in Benin follows a series of coups in neighboring countries, contributing to a sense of regional instability. In recent months alone, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau have experienced attempted or successful power grabs by military factions. Benin shares its northern borders with Niger and Burkina Faso—both of which have also undergone military takeovers. These developments have created what many observers describe as a widening “coup corridor” across portions of West Africa.
Benin had long stood out as one of the region’s democratic success stories. However, recent political tensions, including disputes over electoral reforms and opposition exclusion, have raised concerns about growing authoritarian tendencies and weakening democratic institutions. Sunday’s events may reflect these deeper fractures.
Patrice Talon, a 67-year-old former businessman famously known as the “cotton king” for his dominance in Benin’s cotton industry, first came to power in 2016. Throughout his presidency, Talon has been recognized for spurring economic growth and modernizing parts of the country’s infrastructure. However, he has also faced criticism from political opponents and civil society groups, who accuse him of consolidating power and restricting political freedoms.
Talon is nearing the end of his second term, which constitutionally must conclude in 2026. Under current electoral rules, he is not eligible to run again. The political landscape ahead of the next elections has already been contentious: the main opposition party has been barred from the upcoming electoral contest, leaving a so-called “moderate opposition” and the ruling party as the likely primary contenders. Critics argue that this exclusion undermines political pluralism and fuels dissent.
These underlying tensions form the backdrop against which the CMR’s announcement took place. Some analysts suggest that disputes over political succession may have emboldened fringe elements within the military, though there is no confirmed link between the succession debate and the alleged coup attempt.
As of Sunday evening, the situation in Benin remained fluid. Reports suggested that loyalist troops were moving to secure key government buildings and restore order, though the full extent of the attempted takeover was still unclear. With the appearance of the Benin military group on national television, citizens and observers alike are awaiting clearer statements from the government, the armed forces, and international partners.
For now, Benin faces a critical test of its democratic resilience. Whether Sunday’s events mark a failed mutiny, a deeper splintering within the military, or the beginning of a more serious confrontation remains to be seen. What is certain is that the sudden involvement of the armed forces in political matters has brought new uncertainty to a nation preparing for a major political transition.
Source- EWN
