Benin Republic has fallen under military rule following a sudden takeover by senior officers who announced the dissolution of the federal government on Sunday.
In a nationwide broadcast on state television, a group identifying itself as the Military Committee for Refoundation declared that the president, cabinet members, and all political officeholders had been removed from power. According to the officers, every state institution now stands dissolved.
President Patrice Talon, who has governed since 2016 and earlier pledged to leave office in April 2026 after the next presidential election, is now effectively ousted. The development comes months after Djimon Tevoedjre, commander of the republican guard and head of Talon’s security team, was arrested in September 2024 over an attempted coup.
With this takeover, Benin becomes the latest West African nation to fall under military control.
The region has witnessed a wave of coups in recent years. Just last month, Guinea-Bissau’s military seized power after a disputed election in which both President Umaro Embaló and his main challenger, Fernando Dias, claimed victory before official results were announced.
Other countries currently ruled by military juntas in West Africa include Burkina Faso (2022), Guinea (2021), Mali (2020), and Niger (2023).
