Benin Confirms Entry of Nigerian and Ivory Coast Military Forces Amidst Coup Attempt
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Benin has confirmed the arrival of military personnel from Nigeria and Ivory Coast within its borders.
The government of Benin stated that these forces are intended to bolster the Beninese army.
Nigeria, with the support of ECOWAS, has reportedly aided Benin during the coup attempt, including launching air strikes against the coup plotters on Sunday evening.
ECOWAS had previously announced the immediate deployment of its reserve forces to Benin to support the government and army in countering the coup.
An ECOWAS statement indicated that troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, and Ghana have been dispatched to Benin to uphold constitutional order and territorial integrity.
Sources within the Nigerian presidency and military confirmed that the Nigerian Air Force, in coordination with Beninese authorities, targeted locations within Benin.
A Nigerian Air Force spokesperson emphasized that the operation aligns with ECOWAS protocols and the regional reserve force framework, demonstrating Nigeria’s commitment to regional security.
The attempted coup in Benin marks the latest threat to democracy in West Africa, a region that has witnessed military takeovers in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and recently Guinea-Bissau.
Benin’s President Patrice Talon announced on Sunday evening that the government, in collaboration with the army, had thwarted an attempted coup by a group of soldiers and pledged to punish those responsible.
Concurrently, ECOWAS announced the deployment of forces to Benin to support the government.
This announcement followed approximately 12 hours after gunfire erupted in several neighborhoods of Cotonou, Benin’s capital and largest city, and the appearance of soldiers on state television claiming to have ousted 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 events unfold as Benin approaches its presidential election in April, marking the end of Talon’s term. He has been in power since 2016.
