A special court in Benin Repulic has remanded about 30 individuals, most of them military personnel, in custody in connection with a failed coup attempt that took place earlier this month. The suspects appeared before the Court for the Repression of Economic Offenses and Terrorism in Cotonou and were placed in pre-trial detention pending further investigation.
The coup bid unfolded on 7 December 2025, when a group of soldiers led by Lieutenant-Colonel Pascal Tigri briefly seized the national television station and announced the overthrow of President Patrice Talon’s government. Loyalist forces quickly quashed the mutiny with support from the Nigerian Air Force and French special forces, restoring constitutional order within hours.
Authorities have charged the detained suspects with serious offences including treason, murder and endangering state security. Security was visibly tightened around the courthouse during the proceedings, and legal representatives were present to follow the case. One civilian was also among those remanded, highlighting the broad nature of the alleged conspiracy.
Although Tigri and other key mutineers remain at large, the swift detentions and court remand signal Benin’s resolve to pursue accountability for all involved in the plot. President Talon, who is nearing the end of his constitutionally limited tenure, condemned the attempt and affirmed the government’s commitment to upholding constitutional order.
