Who is Pascal Tigri? The Officer Leading the Mutiny Against President Talon
- A military faction led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri has claimed control of Benin via state television but the Foreign Minister insists the army remains loyal to President Talon
- Heavy gunfire has been reported near the presidential palace in Cotonou and international embassies have ordered citizens to shelter in place
- The attempted takeover continues a wave of regional instability in West Africa and comes just months before the scheduled end of Talon's presidency.
The Republic of Benin has been plunged into a state of dangerous uncertainty following a dramatic televised declaration by a faction of the military. A group of uniformed officers stormed the national broadcaster on Sunday to announce the deposition of President Patrice Talon and the dissolution of all state institutions. This brazen move has triggered a volatile standoff in the capital city of Cotonou where the crack of automatic gunfire has shattered the calm near the presidential residence.
The insubordinate group has self-identified as the Military Committee for Refoundation and promptly declared that Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri is now the head of the transitional authority. Their broadcast included immediate directives to suspend the constitution and seal all land and air borders. This is a classic strategic maneuver designed to consolidate control and prevent the incumbent leadership from fleeing or rallying international support.
High-ranking officials within the Talon administration have vehemently rejected the narrative of a successful government overthrow. Foreign Minister Shegun Adjadi Bakari insists that the insurrection involves only a small and isolated cadre of mutineers who lack broader support within the armed forces. He maintains that the vast majority of the regular army remains loyal to the constitution and is currently moving to neutralize the threat at the television station.
The situation on the streets paints a more precarious picture than official reassurances might suggest. Residents near the strategic diplomatic and government districts reported distinct exchanges of gunfire early Sunday morning. Security forces have established roadblocks at critical intersections and around key port infrastructure while the French embassy has issued urgent directives for its citizens to remain indoors for their safety.
The whereabouts of President Patrice Talon remain unconfirmed amidst the fog of conflicting reports. The wealthy businessman known locally as the King of Cotton has governed the nation since 2016 and was nearing the end of his constitutional tenure. His silence since the initial reports of gunfire has fueled intense speculation regarding his physical safety and his current ability to command the state security apparatus.
This attempted seizure of power occurs at a particularly sensitive political juncture for the West African nation. Benin is scheduled to hold presidential elections in April where Talon had promised to step aside for a successor. However the political climate has been fraught with tension after the electoral commission disqualified key opposition figure Renaud Agbodjo from the race. This move cleared the path for Talon's preferred candidate and former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni.
The events in Cotonou are merely the latest tremors to shake a region that is rapidly becoming known as the coup belt of the continent. The incident follows closely on the heels of a military takeover in Guinea-Bissau just over a week prior. This contagion of unconstitutional power grabs in neighboring states like Niger and Burkina Faso has normalized military intervention as a tool for resolving political disputes.
Security analysts point to the deteriorating security situation in the northern territories as a potential driver for military discontent. Jihadist groups affiliated with Al Qaeda and the Islamic State have been steadily encroaching southward from the Sahel region. The inability of civilian governments to effectively stem this tide of violence has frequently served as a pretext for military officers to claim they alone can restore order.
Benin had long been heralded as a beacon of democratic stability in a turbulent neighborhood following its transition from Marxism in the early 1990s. Yet that reputation has eroded under recent legislative changes including the extension of presidential terms. The current crisis threatens to undo decades of institutional progress and drag the country back into the cycle of instability that characterized its post-independence era.
The next few hours will be decisive in determining whether this is a momentary mutiny or the definitive end of the Fourth Republic. The signal for state media has been severed and an ominous silence has fallen over the airwaves. The world watches to see if the loyalist forces can indeed retake control or if Benin will become the latest domino to fall to military rule.