For twenty-five years, the Republic of Benin was the “shining city on a hill” for West African democracy. It was the birthplace of the Sovereign National Conference, a model of peaceful transitions, and a place where even former dictators like Mathieu Kérékou learned to respect the ballot box.
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But on December 7, 2025, that legacy was nearly erased in a hail of gunfire and a pre-dawn television broadcast. While the coup attempt by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri and his “Military Committee for Refoundation” ultimately failed, it revealed a terrifying truth: the “flagship” of African democracy has been taking on water for years. The transition from a democratic icon to a coup target didn’t happen overnight; it was a systematic dismantling of the state led by a “King of Cotton” turned President.
The Architect of Decay: Patrice Talon’s Business of Power
When Patrice Talon was elected in 2016, he was seen as a modernizing force—a billionaire businessman who would apply corporate efficiency to a sluggish state. However, Talon’s efficiency soon took a dark turn toward political exclusion.
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The Bureaucratic Guillotine: In 2019, the government introduced “certificates of conformity” and massive filing fees ($450,000 USD) that effectively barred opposition parties from the ballot.
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The CRIET Court: Created to fight economic crimes, the Court for the Repression of Economic Offenses and Terrorism (CRIET) became a judicial weapon. Opposition figures like Reckya Madougou (sentenced to 20 years) and Joël Aïvo (sentenced to 10 years) were neutralized through legal maneuvers that international observers labeled politically motivated.
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The 2024 Amendments: Just weeks before the 2025 coup attempt, Talon’s hand-picked legislature passed a constitutional reform extending presidential terms from five to seven years. While the two-term limit remained, the timing signaled a man who was not yet ready to relinquish his grip on the apparatus of the state.
The Shadow War in the North
While the elite in Cotonou focused on political consolidation, the northern frontier was falling into chaos. Spillovers from Burkina Faso and Niger brought Al-Qaeda-linked militants (JNIM) into Benin’s national parks.
In April 2025, a devastating attack killed dozens of Beninese soldiers. The government’s response was a “policy of silence”—threatening journalists who reported on the casualties and suppressing military data. This disconnect created a dangerous rift between the civilian leadership and the rank-and-file soldiers who felt they were being sent to die in a war the President refused to acknowledge.
December 7, 2025: Twenty-Four Hours of Chaos
The frustrations of the military boiled over on a Sunday morning. A small group of mutineers, led by Pascal Tigri, a former commander in the National Guard who had served on the front lines in the north, stormed the national broadcaster (ORTB).
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Timeline of the Attempted Coup:
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04:00 AM: Gunfire erupts near the presidential residence in Cotonou.
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05:00 AM: Mutineers seize Major General Fructueux Gbaguidi (Chief of Defense Staff) and other top officers as hostages.
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06:30 AM: Tigri appears on live television, declaring the dissolution of the government and the suspension of the constitution.
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10:00 AM: Nigerian President Bola Tinubu authorizes the Nigerian Air Force to enter Beninese airspace to support loyalist forces.
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12:00 PM: Interior Minister Alassane Seidou announces the coup has been “foiled.”
By evening, Talon appeared on screen, looking shaken but defiant. The coup had failed, but the image of Benin as a stable democracy was gone.
The Looming Shadow of April 2026
The failure of the December coup does not mean stability has returned. Benin now stands at a crossroads as it prepares for the April 2026 presidential elections.
Talon has officially designated Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni as his successor. However, the opposition remains largely disqualified, and the “Military Committee for Refoundation” leader, Pascal Tigri, remains at large, reportedly in hiding in neighboring Togo.
The Stakes for 2026:
| Factor | Current Status | Risk Level |
| Succession | Romuald Wadagni (Talon’s ally) | High (Perceived as “Talon 2.0”) |
| Security | Jihadist insurgency in the North | Critical (Increasing frequency) |
| Diplomacy | ECOWAS intervention and Nigerian support | Volatile (Tense relations with Sahel neighbors) |
Benin’s story is a cautionary tale for the world: democracy is not a permanent state, but a fragile agreement. When institutions are captured by a single man, and the military feels abandoned, the “flagship” can sink just as quickly as any other ship in a storm.