Benin: Patrice Talon’s statement after Sunday’s attempted coup
President of the Republic Patrice Talon addressed the Beninese nation and the international community on Sunday evening, a few hours after a mutiny carried out by a group of soldiers.
MESSAGE TO THE NATION PATRICE TALON
Cotonou, December 7, 2025
Beninese women and men, my dear compatriots, I am addressing you this evening because our country experienced events of extreme gravity today. Indeed, a small group of soldiers, under the pretext of spurious demands, staged a mutiny aimed at attacking the institutions of the Republic and destabilizing our nation, thus calling the democratic order into question.
Such an attempt would have plunged our country into a purposeless adventure with disastrous consequences. It would have brought to a halt the development process our country has begun, thanks to the efforts of all its daughters and sons. In such circumstances, my republican duty, as President of the Republic, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and guarantor of the country’s stability, requires me to take the appropriate measures to thwart the plans of those adventurers who wish to return us to a regrettable past.
Accordingly, in coordination with the command of the Defense and Security Forces, I have taken the necessary actions to maintain peace and to guarantee the safety and tranquility of everyone across the national territory. I would like to salute here the sense of duty of our Army and its leaders, who remained republican and loyal to the Fatherland. With them, we stood firm, retook positions and cleared the last pockets of resistance of the mutineers.
This commitment and mobilization allowed us to foil these adventurers and avert the worst for our country. This wrongdoing will not go unpunished.
It is my duty to congratulate our Defense and Security Forces as a whole for their sense of duty. I would also like, at the same time, to express my thoughts for the victims of this senseless episode, as well as for the people still held by fleeing mutineers. I assure them that we will do everything to find them safe and sound. My dear compatriots,
I would also like to thank in particular those of you at home and abroad for your active support and numerous messages of encouragement throughout the day. They reassured us and gave us the necessary energy to stand firm in the name of Benin, which, we can say, truly has a soul.
Finally, I want to reassure you that the situation is completely under control and therefore invite you to calmly resume your activities as of this very evening. Security and public order will be maintained throughout the national territory to guarantee freedom of movement for everyone. Long live the RepublicLong live BeninThank you.
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