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When the army comes knocking: Benin’s failed coup and West African instability
ECFR | English | AcademicThink | Dec. 12, 2025 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes
On December 7, 2025, a group of military officers in Benin attempted a coup by announcing the removal of President Patrice Talon, suspension of the constitution, and seizure of power via state television. This follows a trend of military interventions in West Africa, including a recent coup in Guinea-Bissau where soldiers halted electoral processes unfavorable to the incumbent president. Over the past five years, several West African countries including Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, and Niger have experienced unconstitutional regime changes, weakening the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), especially after Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger withdrew from the bloc.
Benin avoided success for the coup as loyalist forces, supported by Nigerian Air Force jets, regained control by the evening, with President Talon declaring the situation under control. ECOWAS responded by deploying a standby force made up of troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana to stabilize the country. The role of Nigeria and the African Standby Force Intervention Team remains critical in maintaining regional security and countering coups.
West African stability is vital to European interests, given substantial European investments in infrastructure, agrifood, and energy sectors in coastal states, as well as the Gulf of Guinea’s importance to global maritime trade and supply chains. Stable governance is also crucial for combating drug trafficking that links Latin America, Asia, and Europe. Europeans are advised to discreetly support coastal governments in security and hybrid-threat mitigation, avoiding overt displays of influence that could fuel anti-Western, anti-French, and neocolonial narratives reinforced by widespread regional disinformation, including propaganda glorifying military juntas.
The failed coup in Benin occurred amid political tensions ahead of general elections scheduled for April 2026, where opposition candidates have been excluded due to restrictive electoral rules. Despite President Talon’s strong economic record, discontent persists within the military and society, driven by grievances such as the government's failure to contain jihadist insurgencies, rising inequalities, shrinking civic space, opaque public procurement, and constitutional changes extending Talon’s term and creating a Senate seat for him.