President Patrice Talon announced Sunday evening that Benin's government and armed forces had thwarted an attempted coup by a group of soldiers, vowing to punish those responsible for what he called "treachery."

Talon's televised address came approximately 12 hours after gunfire rang out in several neighborhoods of Cotonou, the country's largest city and commercial hub, and soldiers appeared on state television to claim they had removed him from power.

"This treachery will not go unpunished," Talon said in remarks aired on state television.

The rapid mobilization of forces loyal to the government "allowed us to thwart these adventurers," the president said. He expressed condolences to victims of the attempt and mentioned that some people were still being held by "fleeing mutineers," without providing details on casualties or hostages.

A government spokesperson, Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji, said 14 people had been arrested in connection with the coup attempt as of Sunday afternoon.

Soldiers claim power on state television

The coup attempt began in the early hours of Sunday with an attack on the president's official residence in Cotonou, according to sources cited by France 24. The French embassy said on social media that gunfire had been reported near Talon's residence at Camp Guezo and urged French citizens to remain indoors.

At least eight soldiers, several wearing helmets, then appeared on Benin's state television to announce that a military committee led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri had taken over. The group called itself the Military Committee for Refoundation.

"The army solemnly commits to give the Beninese people the hope of a truly new era, where fraternity, justice and work prevail," said a statement read by one of the soldiers.

The soldiers announced the dissolution of all national institutions, the suspension of the constitution, and the closure of air, land and maritime borders. They also announced that political party activities would be suspended "until further notice."

In their statement, the soldiers mentioned the deteriorating security situation in northern Benin "coupled with the disregard and neglect of our fallen brothers-in-arms."

Foreign Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari told Reuters that the soldiers had only briefly managed to take control of the state television network.

"There is an attempt but the situation is under control," Bakari said. "A large part of the army is still loyalist and we are taking over the situation."

Interior Minister Alassane Seidou announced in a video on Facebook that the attempted coup had been "foiled."

"In the early morning of Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, a small group of soldiers launched a mutiny with the aim of destabilizing the state and its institutions," Seidou said. "Faced with this situation, the Beninese Armed Forces and their leadership, true to their oath, remained committed to the republic."

Nigeria sends military assistance

At the request of Talon's government, Nigeria sent air force fighter jets to take over Benin's airspace to help dislodge the coup plotters from the state television network and a military camp, according to a statement from Nigerian President Bola Tinubu's office.

Nigeria also sent ground troops, the statement said.

Bayo Onanuga, the Nigerian government's spokesperson, said Benin's government made two separate requests for air and ground forces.

"It took some hours before the government's loyal forces, assisted by Nigeria, took control and flushed out the coup plotters from the National TV," Onanuga said.

The West African regional bloc ECOWAS condemned the coup attempt and said it had ordered the immediate deployment of elements of its standby force to Benin, including troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Ghana.

"ECOWAS strongly condemns this unconstitutional move that represents a subversion of the will of the people of Benin," the bloc said in a statement. "ECOWAS will support the Government and the people in all forms necessary to defend the Constitution and the territorial integrity of Benin."

The African Union also issued a condemnation. AU chairperson Mahmoud Ali Yousouf stated that the bloc "strongly and unequivocally condemns" the attempt and reaffirmed support for Talon.

Political context in Benin

The coup attempt came as Benin was preparing for a presidential election in April that would mark the end of Talon's tenure. Talon has been in power since 2016 and was due to step down after the vote.

Talon's ruling coalition had nominated Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni to be its candidate. Opposition candidate Renaud Agbodjo was rejected by the electoral commission on the grounds that he did not have sufficient sponsors.

Last month, Benin's legislature extended the presidential term of office from five to seven years while keeping the term limit at two. Critics said the move was a power grab by the ruling coalition.

In January, two associates of Talon were sentenced to 20 years in prison for an alleged 2024 coup plot.

Talon has been credited with reviving the economy since taking office, but the country has seen an increase in attacks by jihadist militants that have carried out assaults in Mali and Burkina Faso. Benin has been the hardest hit among coastal West African states by armed groups that have made major gains in the central Sahel region, a fact underscored by attacks in January and April that killed dozens of soldiers.

Nina Wilen, director for the Africa Programme at the Egmont Institute for International Relations in Belgium, said the deteriorating security situation in the north was likely a factor behind the soldiers' actions.

Nevertheless, she said Sunday's coup attempt was a surprise given Benin's relative stability following a period of coups and coup attempts in the first decades after independence from France in 1960.

"No coups in 50 years? That's a major feat for a country in West Africa," Wilen said.

Regional pattern of military takeovers

The attempted coup is the latest in a string of military takeovers that have rocked West Africa since 2020.

Last month, a military coup in Guinea-Bissau removed former President Umaro Embalo after a contested election in which both he and the opposition candidate declared themselves winners.

Since August 2020, Mali has witnessed two back-to-back coups. Colonel Assimi Goita, the military leader who initially entered a power-sharing deal, overthrew a civilian president in 2021 and installed himself as president. He has since postponed elections originally slated for 2022.

In Burkina Faso, Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba was ousted in January 2022, followed by another coup in September when Captain Ibrahim Traore took power on the same pretext of deteriorating security.

In Niger, General Abdourahamane Tchiani ousted democratically elected Mohamed Bazoum in 2023, ending a rare democratic transition in the country. That coup sparked a crisis in ECOWAS, which threatened to invade Niger if Bazoum was not restored.

Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have since formed their own bloc, the Alliance of Sahel States, after breaking from ECOWAS and have firmly stated their objections to a return to democracy.

Following its independence from France in 1960, Benin witnessed multiple coups. Since 1991, the country had been politically stable following the two-decade rule of Marxist-Leninist Mathieu Kerekou.

The apparent coup attempt in Benin "does not come as a surprise to anyone," Adama Gaye, a former director of communications at ECOWAS, told Al Jazeera. He stated that there has been significant political tension in the country, with many opposition members imprisoned.