Military officers in Benin Republic have taken control of the federal government.

A group of soldiers announced the dissolution of the government during a broadcast on Benin’s state TV on Sunday.

The group, which labels itself the Military Committee for Refoundation, said the president and all political officeholders have been effectively removed.
All state institutions were also dissolved.

Patrice Talon, Benin Republic president, has been on the saddle since 2016 and had promised to leave office in April 2026 after the presidential poll.

In September 2024, Djimon Tevoedjre, commander of the republican guard and head of Talon’s security, was arrested following an attempted coup.

Benin Republic is now the latest West African country to fall under the control of a military junta.

Last month, military officers in Guinea-Bissau captured power after President Umaro Embaló, who was seeking re-election, and Fernando Dias, his main opponent, both declared victory in the country’s election even though the electoral commission had not released official results.

Other West African states under military rule include Burkina Faso (2022), Guinea (2021), Mali (2020) and Niger (2023).