Fresh facts have emerged about how the coup attempt by some junior military officers in the Benin Republic was successfully crushed.
The new facts were revealed in a report released by the Benin Council of Ministers after its extraordinary session held on Monday, December 8, 2025, under the chairmanship of Benin President, Mr Patrice Talon.
The session was expanded to include minister-advisers and the high command of the Defence and Security Forces. The report was signed by the Secretary General of the Government.
Edouard Ouin-Ouro said.
“From the detailed account given by the Head of State, it emerged that the small group of soldiers behind the mutiny had planned to overthrow their senior officers, remove the President of the Republic himself, subdue the institutions of the Republic, and undermine the constitutional order,” the report said.
The report further states that, “To achieve this, their first step was to neutralise or kidnap certain generals and senior officers of the Army due to their roles within the Beninese Armed Forces or within the State apparatus.
“Thus, around 2 a.m., they went to the home of the Director of the Military Cabinet of the President of the Republic, General Bertin BADA, who managed to escape, whereas his wife was mortally wounded by the assailants.
“Once informed, the military command requested support from the Togbin military base to assist General BADA. The slow reaction of this base led the command to order its commander, Colonel Faïzou GOMINA, to go there immediately. Upon his arrival, he was violently taken hostage. It was at this point that it became clear the mutiny had taken root.
“Meanwhile, an attempt was made to storm the residence of General Abou ISSA, Chief of Staff of the Army, who fiercely resisted the mutineers, although he was eventually kidnapped later by another reinforcement team.
“From this moment, confirmation was established that the mutiny indeed originated from the Togbin base.
“Military intelligence quickly revealed that the mutineers had left the base with weapons and armored vehicles.
“Around 5 a.m., they moved toward the residence of the Head of State, where the Republican Guard—alerted and operating under strict orders—was firmly waiting for them. A fierce battle ensued as the mutineers attempted to seize control in order to capture the President. The President, alongside elements of the Republican Guard, witnessed the violent clashes in real time, which caused casualties on both sides, until the attackers, overwhelmed by the resistance of loyal soldiers, retreated.
“Determined to continue with their plan, the mutineers headed to the national television station, which they controlled briefly, making a televised statement before being dislodged by loyalist forces. Several mutineers were arrested this way.
“Other soldiers, however, refused to surrender their arms. Moments later, they attempted to open other fronts, especially at the Togbin military base, where they still had armored equipment. Rapidly, the Republican Army, reinforced by nearby barracks, surrounded the base, preventing any movement and preparing for a final assault.
“But since the base is located in a residential area, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and the military leadership wanted to avoid heavy armed clashes that could cause numerous civilian casualties. Targeted and precise airstrikes were therefore ordered, avoiding surrounding neighborhoods such as Togbin and Fidjrossè, and preventing innocent civilian casualties.
“At this stage, sub-regional cooperation was activated under ECOWAS, at the request of Benin. Nigeria provided assistance through end-of-day airstrikes using military aircraft that disabled some armored vehicles.
“This operation was carried out successfully, without loss of human life. The final assailants fled after realizing their preparatory maneuvers had failed.
“Control of the Togbin base was restored, and it is now occupied by an ECOWAS standby force composed of Nigerian soldiers who arrived Sunday night to Monday morning to support the Republican Army.
“Additionally, as part of the sub-regional cooperation effort, a special force from Côte d’Ivoire arrived late Sunday to position itself in Cotonou for any additional needed action.
“It should be noted that General Abou ISSA and Colonel Faïzou GOMINA, who had been held hostage, were freed early Monday, December 8, thanks to intelligence operations and the special security arrangements in Tchaourou, where the mutineers had already taken them, planning to kill them.
“Given the gravity of events, the Government observed a minute of silence in memory of the lives lost, then ordered that the ongoing investigations identify all perpetrators and their sponsors, so that they answer for their actions, assess material damage—including collateral damage suffered by civilians—and consider State compensation.
“Seizing the moment, the President of the Republic thanked the entire Beninese nation for its unwavering support and commitment to the proper functioning of the country. He congratulated the Army and its commanders for their loyalty and sense of republican duty, and instructed that the families of those who sacrificed themselves in defense of the nation be properly supported. He also expressed appreciation for the support of ECOWAS countries, particularly Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire.
“He further encouraged both the Government and all citizens to see in this test a reason to continue building a strong and resilient Benin—one that protects all its children and responds to threats that undermine the nation’s interests.
“Finally, he expressed his conviction that Benin will continue its march toward progress, and that the country must learn all possible lessons from these events to ensure they never happen again.”
