The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Yousouf, has strongly condemned the 7 December attempted coup in Benin, describing it as a grave violation of AU principles and a case of “military interference in political processes.”
In a statement issued on Sunday, he urged the soldiers involved to cease all unlawful actions, respect the Constitution, and return to their barracks without delay.
The AU called on national stakeholders to uphold unity, dialogue, and national peace, warning of the “troubling proliferation of military coups” across the region. Yousouf highlighted that repeated unconstitutional takeovers undermine democratic progress, erode public trust, and weaken continental stability.
He reaffirmed the AU’s zero-tolerance stance on any unconstitutional change of government and expressed full support for President Patrice Talon, the legitimate authorities, and the people of Benin.
The AU’s position aligns with an earlier ECOWAS condemnation calling for respect for Benin’s Constitution. On Sunday morning, a group of soldiers announced on state television that they had removed President Talon, suspended the constitution, and dissolved state institutions, citing insecurity in the north. Benin’s government, however, said the coup attempt had been foiled and the situation brought under control. President Patrice Talon, 67, is currently serving his second and final term and is expected to leave office in April 2026.