Benin: Colonel Pascal Tigri Located in Niger After Failed Coup Attempt

Niamey, December 2025 - Colonel Pascal Tigri, implicated in a failed coup attempt in Benin, has been located in Niger, where he has reportedly been staying since December 12, 2025, in a ministerial residence near the presidential palace in Niamey.

According to available information, Colonel Tigri left Cotonou on December 7, shortly after the collapse of the alleged coup plot. He first traveled to Lomé before flying to Ouagadougou on Friday, December 12, aboard a private Beechcraft 100D aircraft operated by Liza Transport International (LTI) Aviation, a subsidiary of the Ebomaf group owned by Burkinabe businessman Mahamadou Boukoungou. From Ouagadougou, he was transferred by plane to Niamey, where he is currently believed to be residing.

Several concurring sources indicate that Ouagadougou functioned as the operational nerve center of the attempted coup, with close coordination involving Niamey, raising regional security concerns.

Speaking at a press conference on December 18, 2025, Beninese President Patrice Talon confirmed that arrest warrants have been issued against Colonel Tigri and his alleged accomplices. “They managed to cross the border… We have issued arrest warrants for them and requested the cooperation of the countries concerned so that they can be handed over to us,” President Talon stated.

According to the Beninese presidency, the extradition of Colonel Tigri by Nigerien authorities would be the only way to dispel suspicions regarding Niamey’s possible involvement in the alleged plot to destabilize Benin. Officials warn that a refusal to hand him over could lead to serious political and security repercussions, particularly as doubts persist over Niger’s willingness to cooperate fully on the matter.

The case adds to growing regional tensions and highlights the fragile security environment in West Africa, where alleged coup attempts and cross-border movements of military figures continue to strain diplomatic relations between neighboring states.