The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has ordered the immediate deployment of its regional standby force to Benin Republic following a foiled coup attempt against President Patrice Talon.
This decision came after consultations among members of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council at the level of Heads of State and Government, in line with Article 25(e) of the 1999 Protocol on conflict prevention, management, resolution, peacekeeping, and security.
The standby force comprises troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana, tasked with supporting the Benin government and its Republican Army to preserve constitutional order and territorial integrity.
ECOWAS issued the directive late Sunday, emphasizing its commitment to defending Benin’s democratic institutions amid rising military putsch risks across West Africa.
The bloc had earlier condemned the actions of a small group of renegade soldiers who claimed to have toppled Talon’s leadership, though the president’s office insisted he remained safe and in control.
Beninese authorities reported the situation under control, with plotters arrested, but ECOWAS warned that coup leaders would be held accountable for any loss of life or property.
This rapid response signals ECOWAS’s renewed resolve to counter instability in the region, where recent coups have tested the bloc’s unity and intervention mechanisms.
Nigeria, as a key contributor, affirmed its troops’ role in dislodging plotters and upholding order, reflecting President Bola Tinubu’s firm stance against unconstitutional changes.
The deployment underscores high mobile penetration and logistical readiness in West Africa, aiming to prevent escalation and reassure citizens amid ongoing security challenges.
African Union leaders echoed ECOWAS’s disapproval, calling for respect of Benin’s constitution and saluting the army’s efforts to neutralize the threat swiftly.
Regional analysts view this as a deterrent message to potential plotters in neighboring states, bolstering collective defense against the wave of military interventions.
ECOWAS pledged full support to Benin in all necessary forms, including further standby force elements if required to safeguard democracy and borders.
