The officers, identifying themselves as the Military Committee for Refoundation, were reportedly led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri.
The African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have strongly condemned the attempted military coup in the Republic of Benin, which occurred on Sunday, December 7, 2025.
Both regional bodies described the incident as an unacceptable assault on democratic order and vowed to support Benin in safeguarding its constitutional governance.
A group of military officers appeared on Benin national television on Sunday morning, claiming to have removed President Patrice Talon and dissolved all state institutions.
The officers, identifying themselves as the Military Committee for Refoundation, were reportedly led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri.
According to reports from Beninese media outlet TchadOne, the group attacked President Talon’s residence in the Le Guézo neighbourhood and took control of the national television station, where Tigri declared himself “chairman of the military re-establishment committee.”
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Yousouf, strongly and unequivocally condemned the military coup attempt.
The AU warned that any military role in politics amounts to a severe breach of the organisation’s core values.
Yousouf stressed, “Any form of military interference in political processes constitutes a grave violation of the fundamental principles and values of the African Union.”
The Commission recalled several continental instruments that prohibit unconstitutional changes of government, including the AU Constitutive Act, the Lomé Declaration, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, and the Ezulwini Framework.
These frameworks, it noted, “categorically reject military encroachment in governance and affirm the primacy of constitutional order and democratic legitimacy as pillars of peace and stability on the continent.”
The AU leadership demanded that those involved in the coup attempt halt all illegal activities, return to their barracks, and respect state institutions.
“The Chairperson calls on all actors involved in the coup attempt to immediately cease all unlawful actions, to fully respect the Constitution of Benin, and to return without delay to their legitimate barracks and professional obligations,” the statement read.
Yousouf also urged national actors to prioritise dialogue and unity, expressing worry over the increasing frequency of coups in Africa.
He noted with regret that such developments “continue to undermine continental stability, threaten democratic gains, and embolden military actors to act outside constitutional mandates.”
He warned that these actions damage public trust and weaken the authority of the state, stressing that the AU maintains a strict “zero tolerance stance toward any unconstitutional change of government, regardless of context or justification.”
Reaffirming support for President Patrice Talon and the people of Benin, the AU assured that it stood ready to work with partners to ensure “the full restoration of constitutional normalcy and the strengthening of democratic institutions.”
Similarly, ECOWAS reacted with alarm, saying it had received “with consternation” reports of the attempted military takeover.
The regional bloc condemned the plot as “an unconstitutional move that represents a subversion of the will of the people of Benin.”
ECOWAS called for full adherence to Benin’s constitutional order and commended government forces for swiftly controlling the situation.
It warned that the masterminds would be held accountable for any harm caused, stating, “ECOWAS holds the leaders of the plot both individually and collectively responsible for any loss to life and property occasioned by their action.”
The commission pledged to support Benin in all necessary ways, including potential deployment of the ECOWAS Standby Force.
It declared, “ECOWAS will support the Government and the people in all forms necessary, including the deployment of the regional standby force, to defend the Constitution and the territorial integrity of Benin.”