The United Nations on Sunday condemned a coup attempt in Benin, warning that the mutiny posed a grave threat to the country’s stability and constitutional order.
UN envoy Leonardo Santos Simao said he was following events with “deep concern,” praising authorities for swiftly restoring control after soldiers claimed to remove President Patrice Talon from power.
He expressed solidarity with Talon and urged continued efforts to protect civilians, stressing that UNOWAS would support Benin in safeguarding peace and democratic institutions.
The European Union also denounced the attempted coup, with EU spokesperson Anita Hipper calling for full respect for Benin’s constitutional order in a statement posted on X.
The African Union and the Economic Community of West African States issued similar condemnations, warning that the rising wave of coups in West Africa threatens regional stability and hard-won democratic progress.
AU Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf urged the mutineers to halt illegal actions, return to barracks and respect the Constitution, reaffirming the bloc’s “zero tolerance” policy on unconstitutional power grabs.
ECOWAS vowed to help Benin defend its constitutional order “in all forms necessary,” including the deployment of a regional standby force, and held the coup plotters responsible for any loss of life or damage.
The bloc praised Beninese forces for re-establishing control, calling the mutiny a direct subversion of the people’s will.
The attempted takeover began when a group of soldiers appeared on national television claiming to dissolve Talon’s government and install Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri as head of a new military committee.
Interior Minister Alassane Seidou swiftly countered the claim, saying only “a small group of soldiers” were involved and that the plot had been foiled.
Later Sunday, President Talon assured citizens that the situation was “totally under control,” thanking loyal forces and vowing that the perpetrators would face consequences.
The incident comes days after a successful military coup in Guinea-Bissau, raising fresh concerns over democratic backsliding across the region.