Lagos, Nigeria — December 7, 2025: Benin has become the latest African nation to experience an attempted military coup, adding to a growing trend of political instability across the continent. The short-lived takeover occurred early Sunday, with soldiers briefly seizing control of state television to announce the removal of President Patrice Talon and the dissolution of the government.

Benin’s Interior Minister, Alassane Seidou, later confirmed that the coup was foiled by loyal members of the armed forces. “A small group of soldiers launched a mutiny aimed at destabilizing the state and its institutions,” Seidou said in a video posted online. “The military remains committed to the republic.”

Timeline of Recent Military Coups in Africa

Benin’s coup attempt fits a broader pattern of political unrest and military interventions across Africa, often triggered by disputed elections, constitutional changes, security crises, and youth discontent.

Mali: August 2020 and May 2021

Mali witnessed two successive coups beginning in August 2020, when soldiers arrested senior officers near the capital, Bamako, following widespread protests against then-President Ibrahim Keïta. Col. Assimi Goita later overthrew interim President Bah Ndaw in 2021, postponing elections and consolidating military control. Mali now joins Burkina Faso and Niger in forming a military-led bloc outside ECOWAS oversight.

Chad: April 2021

After the death of long-serving President Idriss Déby, his son Mahamat Idris Déby seized power as army general. Despite promising elections, critics accused him of rigging results and clamping down on political opposition, including sentencing former Prime Minister Succes Masra to 20 years in prison.

Guinea: September 2021

President Alpha Condé, who had amended the constitution to run for a third term, was removed by soldiers led by Mamady Doumbouya. Doumbouya is now running in upcoming polls after a referendum allowed military junta members to participate in elections.

Sudan: October 2021

Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan staged a coup against Omar al-Bashir, ending his 26-year rule. Power was shared with paramilitary leader Muhammad Dangalo (Hedmeti), but tensions led to an ongoing internal conflict regarded as one of the deadliest in the region.

Burkina Faso: January and September 2022

Burkina Faso experienced two military coups in 2022. Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Damiba ousted President Roch Kaboré in January, only to be removed by Capt. Ibrahim Traoré in September. Traoré has since dissolved the independent electoral commission and assumed full control.

Niger: July 2023

Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, ending a rare democratic transition and triggering an ECOWAS crisis. Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali now form the breakaway Alliance of Sahel States.

Gabon: August 2023

President Ali Bongo, who sought a third term, was ousted after soldiers canceled elections and dissolved state institutions. Brice Oligui Nguema, Bongo’s cousin, assumed power and later won a presidential vote in April.

Madagascar: October 2025

Public unrest over water shortages and power outages prompted military intervention, removing President Andry Rajoelina after he refused to resign.

Guinea-Bissau: November 2025

Following disputed presidential elections, soldiers seized power, allowing outgoing President Umaro Sissoco Embaló to flee to Senegal. The new military junta retained several allies from the former administration.

Benin: December 2025

Just two weeks after the Guinea-Bissau coup, Benin experienced its own attempted takeover. Soldiers calling themselves the Military Committee for Refoundation appeared on state television, claiming the removal of President Talon and appointing Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri as the junta leader. Within hours, loyal armed forces foiled the attempt, restoring stability.

Rising Concerns About West African Stability

The frequency of coups in West Africa highlights growing political instability, undermining democratic processes and raising concerns for regional security and foreign investment. ECOWAS and international observers continue to monitor these developments closely, calling for the restoration of constitutional order and civilian rule.