West Africa is again in the grip of political instability. On December 7, a group in Benin, which called itself the "Military Committee for Perestroika," appeared on national television and announced the removal of President Patrice Talon from power. They claimed to have taken control of the country, presenting Lieutenant Colonel Tigri Pascal as the interim administrator.
However, events unfolded quite differently. According to the local publication 24heuresau-Benin, Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, who led the coup attempt, fled, unable to retain the power he held. According to sources, part of the insurgent group has also disappeared, and Benin security services are searching for them.
The situation was clarified in a statement from President Talon's office to AFP. According to the official statement, this was only a small group that occupied television, the country's army fully restored control within a few hours, and both the capital and the provinces were restored to a safe state.
The 67-year-old Talon, currently in charge of the country, expressed his intention to resign next year after two terms. His current term was supposed to last until spring 2026, and the presidential elections were scheduled for April.
This coup attempt in Benin, which occurred in neighboring Guinea-Bissau shortly after the overthrow of President Umaro Sissoko Embalo, has intensified concerns throughout the region. In recent years, military coups have also occurred in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Guinea, indicating that political stability in West Africa is once again under serious threat.
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