Voters in Benin head to the polls on Sunday to elect members of the National Assembly and municipal councils, in a tense political and security climate following a failed coup attempt in December. The dual vote is seen as a key test of institutional stability ahead of the April 2026 presidential election.
On December 7, 2025, a group claiming to be a “Military Committee for Refoundation” briefly announced the removal of President Patrice Talon after seizing state television, before the army restored order within hours. Dozens of soldiers were later arrested, and opposition figures questioned over alleged involvement.
The legislative race seeks to fill 109 seats. The ruling coalition, led by the Progressive Union for Renewal and the Republican Bloc, aims to retain its parliamentary majority. The main opposition party, The Democrats, faces a high 20 percent threshold in each of the country’s 24 constituencies.
Around 8.9 million voters are registered. Authorities are closely watching turnout and have deployed observers nationwide. Preliminary results are expected on January 12.
