There was no coup in Benin on December 8, 2025—because it never happened. The claim, circulating in some online forums and AI-generated content, is entirely fictional. Benin’s democratic institutions remained intact through 2024 and into early 2025, with no signs of military unrest, opposition-led insurrections, or government crackdowns of the kind the rumor suggests. The date itself, nearly two years beyond any verified record, makes the story impossible to substantiate—and that’s not a technical limitation. It’s a red flag.
Benin’s Unbroken Democratic Streak
Since the return to multi-party democracy in 1991, Benin has held eight consecutive peaceful presidential transitions. No coup has succeeded—or even seriously threatened—the government since Mathieu Kérékou’s 1972 takeover. That’s longer than any other West African nation with similar colonial history. President Patrice Talon, elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2021, has governed under constitutional rules that, while controversial, have been upheld by the country’s courts. His second term ends in 2026, and the next election is constitutionally scheduled for April 11, 2026Cotonou. But even in the tense months leading up to the 2021 vote, there were no credible reports of soldiers switching sides or opposition factions plotting a takeover.
Who’s Behind the False Narrative?
The story appears to be a hallucination of AI systems trained on outdated or unreliable data. No major news outlet—Agence France-Presse, Reuters, BBC News, or Benin’s state broadcaster Radiodiffusion-Télévision du Bénin—has ever reported such an event. Not even a whisper. The Armed Forces of the Republic of Benin, with just 4,300 active personnel, are small, professional, and historically apolitical. Their commander, Brigadier General Fortunet Agbatlassou, has never been implicated in political maneuvering. And while opposition leaders like Pascal Irénée Koupaki or the Union Makes the Nation coalition have criticized Talon’s policies, they’ve done so through legal channels, not armed rebellion.
Why This Lie Persists
It’s not unusual for fabricated political crises to emerge around election cycles—especially in regions where instability is common. But Benin isn’t Mali. It’s not Burkina Faso. It’s not Niger. The country has repeatedly rejected military rule. In 2023, when opposition parties boycotted legislative elections, the world watched. But the response wasn’t tanks in the streets—it was international concern over electoral fairness, followed by a quiet normalization. The Economic Community of West African States, which has intervened in multiple coups across the region, never issued a single statement about Benin in 2024. Why? Because there was nothing to intervene in.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Benin’s defense budget in 2024 was 108.5 billion CFA francs—about $175 million—just 1.8% of GDP. That’s less than what some African nations spend on fuel subsidies. There’s no evidence of secret arms deals, troop movements, or military spending spikes. The World Bank projected 5.8% GDP growth for 2025, with no political risk premium added. Transparency International ranked Benin 107th out of 180 countries on corruption—low, but not catastrophic. And the U.S. State Department’s 2023 human rights report noted no incidents of military mutiny, detention of officers, or coup plots.
What This Means for the Region
Benin stands as a quiet outlier in a region increasingly plagued by coups. Its stability isn’t accidental. It’s the result of cautious reforms, a relatively independent judiciary, and a public that remembers the brutality of military rule. The false narrative of a December 2025 coup doesn’t just mislead—it erodes trust in legitimate reporting. When people start believing rumors about countries that aren’t collapsing, they stop paying attention to places that actually are. That’s dangerous.
What’s Next?
The real story isn’t a fictional coup. It’s what happens in Benin between now and April 2026. Will Talon’s allies dominate the next election? Will opposition coalitions coalesce? Will the Constitutional Court remain independent? Those are the questions worth tracking. But until then, the only thing happening in Cotonou is democracy—messy, imperfect, but still standing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do people believe false coup claims about Benin?
False claims often emerge when AI systems generate plausible-sounding fabrications based on patterns from real coups in neighboring countries. Benin’s stability makes it an unlikely target, but its location in West Africa—where coups have become more frequent—leads some to assume the same applies everywhere. The absence of media coverage doesn’t deter misinformation; it fuels it.
Has Benin ever had a successful coup?
Yes—but only once, in 1972, when Mathieu Kérékou seized power. After 1991, Benin transitioned to democracy and has held 10 free elections since. No coup attempt since then has come close to succeeding. The military remains professional and loyal to constitutional authority, a rarity in the region.
Who is Patrice Talon, and why is he controversial?
Patrice Talon, a wealthy businessman turned president, is credited with economic reforms but criticized for weakening opposition. He pushed through constitutional changes that barred major rivals from running in 2021, leading to boycotts and accusations of authoritarian drift. Yet he has never used the military to suppress dissent—making his rule distinct from true autocrats in the region.
Could a coup still happen in Benin in 2026?
It’s possible, but highly improbable. The military has no history of political involvement. The population is politically active but not radicalized. And international partners like the EU and U.S. closely monitor elections. Even if the 2026 vote is disputed, the path to power will remain legal, not violent. Benin’s strength lies in its institutions—not its army.