Benin President Patrice Talon Removed From Office in Apparent Coup
Porto-Novo, Benin – Soldiers announced on Beninese state television Sunday, December 7, 2025, that they have “removed from office” President Patrice Talon, who has been in power as 2016. The move appears to be a coup d’état, throwing the West African nation into a state of uncertainty.
The group of soldiers, identifying themselves as “the Military Committee for Refoundation (CMR),” stated thier decision in a broadcast, declaring, “Mr. Patrice Talon is dismissed from his functions as President of the Republic.” Talon was scheduled to leave office in April following a decade-long term, and his current whereabouts remain unknown.This action disrupts Benin’s democratic trajectory, a nation previously considered a stable democracy in a region facing increasing political instability. The CMR’s motives and plans for a transition of power are currently unclear, raising concerns about the future governance of Benin and its impact on regional security.
The French embassy in benin issued a warning following reports of gunfire near the presidential residence at Camp Guezo. “Gunshots were reported at Camp Guezo,near the home of the president of the Republic,Mr. Patrice Talon,” the embassy stated on X, advising French citizens in the country to remain at home “for safety reasons until further notice.”
