Last updated: December 11, 2025
Country Profile
Benin, previously known as Dahomey, gained independence from France on August 1, 1960. It borders Togo to the west, Burkina Faso and Niger to the north, and Nigeria to the East; its southern coast lies on the Gulf of Guinea. The constitutional capital is Porto Novo, however, Cotonou hosts the seat of government. As of 2025, its population is estimated at around 14 million.
Politics: democratic backsliding and an attempted coup
Once regarded as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies, Benin has faced democratic backsliding in recent years. The current president, Patrice Talon, was re-elected in 2021 for his second and final term, which will end in 2026. Reform to the party system and the electoral code have reduced the space for political opposition, while repression of media and political activists has become more common. Nevertheless, Benin has recorded consistent economic growth under Talon’s leadership. An attempted military coup in December 2025 demonstrated the fragility of his rule and raised concerns that the country could face the same fate as its Northern neighbours.
Security: Rise of Extremist Threat in the North
Benin’s security situation has severely deteriorated in recent years, due to the rising threat of extremist violence, particularly in the north. The number of violent attacks has rapidly increased, from 22 in 2021 to 176 in 2024. Most attacks are attributed to Jama’at Nusrat ul-Islam wa-Muslimin (JNIM), an Al-Queda affiliated terrorist group that has been increasingly active in Benin’s Alibori and Atakora regions that border Niger and Burkina Faso. State presence is weak in these remote areas, while its dense forests provide ideal cover for JNIM’s activities.
Benin has stepped up its counterterrorism efforts in recent years, particularly through intensified collaboration with Western partners. However, since Niger’s military coup, relations between these two countries have deteriorated. The junta has closed the border with Benin, accusing it of hosting foreign forces it perceives as a threat. This is constraining the potential for cross-border bilateral counterterrorism operations that are needed to combat the rising threat.
