A recent coup attempt in Benin, a West African country, was thwarted by a military response from neighboring countries. The attempt, which occurred in early December 2025, was unusual in that it prompted intervention from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) and Nigeria. Benin, with a population of 14.8 million, shares borders with Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria.
The coup plotters, led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, managed to capture the national television station, occupy a military camp, and take two senior army officers hostage. However, after Ecowas deployed its standby force, the momentum of the coup was undermined, and order was restored. Only 14 individuals were arrested, with a few plotters still at large.
Benin has a complex history of coups, having experienced nine attempts between 1960 and 1975. However, the country had not seen a bona fide coup attempt since 1975. Recently, Benin has been considered one of Africa’s “democratic outliers,” with improving living standards and economic growth. Nevertheless, the country’s democratic trajectory has been declining since President Patrice Talon’s election in 2016, with constraints on the executive and liberal democracy overall.
The coup attempt may have been motivated by several factors, including the government’s handling of the growing jihadist threat in the region. Benin has seen an increase in political violence and fatalities since 2022, attributed to the advance of the al-Qaida-affiliated group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). The country has continued to rely on Western security partners, including France and the United States, to aid its counter-insurgency efforts.
The failed coup attempt in Benin marks the third coup attempt in the Sahel region this year and the first to be thwarted. The African Union, European Union, and Ecowas condemned the attempt, while pro-Russian social media accounts praised it. The incident highlights the growing divide between the Russia-aligned juntas of the Sahel Alliance and the remaining Ecowas-aligned civilian regimes of West Africa.
The intervention by Nigeria and Ecowas may have significant implications for the region. Nigeria, in particular, appears to have drawn a line in the sand to prevent further instability and jihadist operations. The country is seeking greater aid from France to combat insecurity, and its military response to the coup attempt in Benin may be a sign of its commitment to maintaining regional stability. As the Sahel region continues to experience a surge in coups and jihadist activity, the international community will be watching closely to see how the situation unfolds.