President Patrice Talon held a press conference this Thursday, January 18, at the Marina Palace. The discussions focused on the details surrounding the thwarted attack of December 7, 2025, and the necessary clarifications regarding the involvement of the armed forces.

"Lost individuals" rather than an institution

The head of state was quick to exonerate the National Guard as an elite force. According to him, the assault was not the work of a structured command, but of an isolated minority.

1. The authors: Only about 15 to 20 individuals.
2. The profile: Soldiers described as "lost souls", manipulated by external interests that he describes as "nostalgic and jealous".
3. Innocence of recruits: The president stated that many young soldiers in training at the Togbin camp were drawn against their will into this movement.

Timeline of a rout

Patrice Talon described a situation of initial chaos within the Togbin camp during the first assault. The confusion led some soldiers to flee by any means necessary.

"Some soldiers dressed in civilian clothes and fled on motorcycles. Others scaled the wall."

The president also justified the tactical decision not to launch an immediate pursuit in order to limit casualties, given that the mutineers were heavily armed. This decision led the attackers to abandon some of their arsenal in the surrounding marshy areas before disappearing.

Army unity and surrender

Despite the attempted destabilization, Patrice Talon maintains that the cohesion of the military has remained intact. All army units reportedly pledged allegiance immediately to the Republican Guard to coordinate the response.

The most striking anecdote remains the telephone conversation between the commander of the National Guard and one of the ringleaders, Lieutenant-Colonel Pascal Tigri, just before his escape:

"We beg you not to bomb us..." the officer reportedly pleaded before disappearing in a vehicle.