 |
| Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, who led the military officers who attempted a coup in Benin on December 7, 2025. |
— TOGO, Lomé
The Beninese government confirmed Thursday that Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, the main instigator of last month’s failed coup attempt, has crossed the border and is now taking refuge in neighboring Togo.
A senior Beninese official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said authorities located Tigri in the Togolese capital, Lomé. The officer is reportedly residing near the official residence of Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé.
Benin plans to formally request his extradition so he can be tried for his role in the attempt to overthrow President Patrice Talon.
The attempted coup, which unfolded over 48 hours in a tense atmosphere, sent shockwaves through a region already destabilized by a recent wave of military coups in West Africa. The mutineers, led by Tigri, briefly seized control of a strategic military base and the state television headquarters before being driven out.
The coup's swift failure is largely attributed to a decisive intervention by Nigeria. At the official request of the Talon government, Nigeria deployed fighter jets in a show of force, dispersing the rebel troops and securing critical infrastructure.