ECOWAS Considers Deploying Troops to Benin After Coup Attempt
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, ECOWAS is considering deploying troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana to Benin in response to a recent coup attempt. The move aims to uphold the constitutional system and territorial integrity of Benin.
Sources from the Nigerian presidency and military confirm that the Nigerian Air Force, in coordination with Beninese authorities, has targeted locations within Benin.
A spokesperson for the Nigerian Air Force emphasized that the operation adheres to ECOWAS protocols and falls within the framework of regional reserve forces, demonstrating Nigeria’s commitment to regional security.
The attempted coup in Benin represents the latest challenge to democracy in West Africa, a region that has witnessed military takeovers in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and most recently, Guinea-Bissau.
Benin’s President Patrice Talon announced on Sunday evening that the government, with the support of the army, successfully thwarted an attempted coup by a group of soldiers and vowed to punish those responsible.
The announcement of potential troop deployment followed approximately 12 hours of gunfire in several neighborhoods of Cotonou, Benin’s capital and largest city. During this time, soldiers appeared on state television claiming to have ousted President Patrice Talon.
In a televised address, Talon stated that the swift mobilization of forces loyal to the government “allowed these adventurers to fail” and emphasized that “this betrayal will not go unpunished.”
The Beninese government reports that 14 individuals have been arrested in connection with the coup attempt.
These developments occur as Benin approaches its presidential elections in April 2025, marking the end of Talon’s term in office. He has held power since 2016.
