Security forces in the West African nation of Benin have successfully thwarted what President Patrice Talon has described as a failed coup attempt. The incident, which unfolded on Sunday, saw a group of soldiers launch an attack on state institutions before announcing the dissolution of the government on national television.
Rapid Response Quells Mutiny
According to Benin's interior minister, Alassane Seidou, the soldiers "launched a mutiny" with the aim of "destabilising the state and its institutions." The group, calling itself the Military Committee for Refoundation, appeared on state broadcaster ORTB to declare the removal of President Talon and all state bodies. They named Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri as the head of the new military committee.
President Talon, in a subsequent address on the recaptured broadcaster, stated that the swift mobilisation of loyalist forces "allowed us to thwart these adventurers." He assured the public that the situation was now "totally under control" and vowed that "this treachery will not go unpunished." A government spokesperson confirmed that at least 14 individuals had been arrested in connection with the plot by Sunday afternoon.
Regional Forces Mobilise Under Ecowas Mandate
In a significant regional response, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) ordered the immediate deployment of its standby force to Benin. The bloc stated that troops from member nations including Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone were being sent to support the Beninese government and army in preserving constitutional order and territorial integrity.
In a related development, a Nigerian presidential source confirmed to AFP that the Nigerian air force conducted strikes on targets within Benin. Nigerian Air Force spokesman Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame stated the action was "in line with Ecowas protocols and the Ecowas standby force mandate." The specific nature of the targets was not immediately disclosed.
A Surprising Threat in a Volatile Region
The attempted power grab marks a surprising development in Benin, a country often viewed as a relative bastion of stability in a troubled region. The last successful coup in Benin occurred in 1972. The attempt comes as the nation of approximately 14.5 million people prepares for a presidential election in April, which will conclude the tenure of the 67-year-old President Talon, who has been in power since 2016.
It also represents the latest challenge to democratic governance in West Africa, where militaries have seized power in recent years in Benin's neighbours Niger and Burkina Faso, as well as in Mali, Guinea, and, as recently as last month, Guinea-Bissau. In their televised statement, the coup plotters cited the deteriorating security situation in northern Benin, which has seen spillover jihadist violence from the Sahel, and the alleged neglect of fallen soldiers.
While President Talon has been credited with economic improvements, the increasing threat from militant groups has presented a significant security challenge, mirroring the instability that has plagued neighbouring countries.
