We delen dit bericht van onze regionale partnervakbond, het ITUC-Africa: The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation(www.ituc-africa.org) has followed with deep concern the events that occurred on Sunday, December 7, 2025, in the Republic of Benin, marked by an attempted military coup aimed at overthrowing the constitutional order and ousting President Patrice […]

We delen dit bericht van onze regionale partnervakbond, het ITUC-Africa:

The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation(www.ituc-africa.org) has followed with deep concern the events that occurred on Sunday, December 7, 2025, in the Republic of Benin, marked by an attempted military coup aimed at overthrowing the constitutional order and ousting President Patrice Talon.

ITUC-Africa condemns in the strongest terms this attempted coup d’état, which constitutes a serious violation of constitutional order, democracy, and the fundamental principles governing democratic governance in Africa. Benin, considered since the 1990 National Conference as a model of democratic stability in West Africa, cannot allow this historic achievement to be called into question.

Institutional disruptions, regardless of their justification, always result in dramatic consequences for workers and populations, including worsening precarity, paralysis of public services, economic and social insecurity, and violations of trade union freedoms and fundamental rights. Beninese workers, already facing high cost of living, wage stagnation, and social protection challenges, must under no circumstances be victims of political instability.

ITUC-Africa expresses its solidarity with the people and workers of Benin, as well as with our affiliated organisations in the country. We commend the determination shown by these organisations, which immediately took a firm stand against this destabilisation attempt and called for the defence of constitutional order and social dialogue.

ITUC-Africa calls on the legitimate authorities of the Republic of Benin to guarantee the security of all citizens and ensure the full and uninterrupted functioning of democratic institutions. We further urge the government to seize this moment as an opportunity to initiate an inclusive national dialogue capable of addressing the social and economic concerns of the population.

We call for the strengthening of social dialogue with trade union organisations and civil society, accompanied by concrete measures to improve the living and working conditions of the Beninese people.

We emphasize that unresolved social tensions, high cost of living, growing precarity, and the absence of responses to workers’ legitimate demands constitute fertile ground for instability. The repetition of destabilization attempts must raise questions about the root causes of social malaise and call for courageous reforms centered on social justice and inequality reduction.

We welcome the swift and firm reaction of ECOWAS and the African Union, which condemned this attempted coup and expressed support for the legitimate authorities of Benin. We encourage these institutions to maintain their vigilance, support initiatives for inclusive national dialogue and reconciliation, and work with international partners to strengthen democratic governance and maintain constitutional order in West Africa. The ECOWAS, AU and other international organisations must remain vigilant in the efforts to preserve participatory plural democracy that delivers dividends to constituents and constituencies, as well as take measures to deter the manipulation and alteration of the constitution.

We remain convinced that only the path of dialogue, respect for institutions, social inclusion, and justice can guarantee a stable, peaceful, and prosperous future for Benin and for Africa as a whole.

ITUC-Africa will continue to closely monitor the evolution of the situation in Benin and stands ready to provide all necessary support to its affiliated organizations in the defense of democracy and workers’ rights.

In solidarity,

Signed in Lomé, Togo, on 10 December 2025

 

Akhator Joel Odigie
General Secretary, ITUC-Africa