Komi Koutché condemns the attempted coup and urges Beninese to rebuild national stability
In a solemn message addressed to the Nation, former Beninese minister Komi Koutché reacted to the attempted coup that took place on Sunday, December 7, 2025.
He describes the event as an “unprecedented seriousness” in Benin’s recent history and strongly condemns any action aimed at overthrowing the republican institutions.
The country went through several hours of intense tension, marked by exchanges of gunfire in some neighborhoods, a bewildered population and security operations carried out in a climate of confusion. For Komi Koutché, these scenes break with the Beninese tradition of dialogue and peaceful dispute resolution that has characterized national political life for nearly half a century.
In his message, he believes this crisis reveals a deep fracture in the national pact and calls on Beninese people to a collective awakening. He uses a strong image to call for cohesion: every citizen must “put their fingertip to plug the holes in the cracked jar, so that it can once again hold the water of our shared values.”
He insists on the need to return to the fundamentals that have shaped the country’s identity, notably moderation, dignity and attachment to peace.
The former minister calls to overcome frustrations and differences in order to restore a climate of trust. He refers to each citizen’s responsibility in defending national stability, reminding that refusing escalation is not a weakness but an act of patriotism.
Komi Koutché also paid tribute to the victims of the December 7 events. He expresses deep sadness in mentioning the death of the wife of Corps General Bertin Bada, saying the tragedy that struck that family touches his heart particularly, given their friendship of more than twenty years. He offers his condolences to all bereaved families.
Finally, he provides clarification regarding a video circulated on social networks on the day of the failed coup. Presented wrongly as a recent message intended for the armed forces, this clip, he recalls, dates from April 2021. He refers to the full content of that intervention to dispel any confusion.
Komi Koutché’s reaction echoes those of several political and social actors who, since Sunday, have called for vigilance and the maintenance of peace while authorities continue to assess the security situation.
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