Nigeria sends fighter jets, ground forces as troops foil coup in Benin Rep

Nigeria, African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States yesterday condemned an attempted military takeover in Benin Republic.

They gave the condemnation as confusion and gunfire were reported in parts of Cotonou following an announcement by some soldiers, claiming to have removed President Patrice Talon from office.

But, amidst the confusion, Beninoise  government said its armed forces had foiled the coup attempt after a group of soldiers in the West African nation claimed on national television to have seized power.

The attempted coup was the latest threat to democratic rule in the region, where the military has in recent years seized power in Benin’s neighbours Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.

The country of about 14 million population’s capital city is Porto-Novo, but Cotonou is the largest city and de facto administrative and economic capital. Between the late 1800s and 1960, Benin was a French colony.

The mutineers, dressed in military uniforms, launched an early morning operation to seize power, beginning with an assault on the presidential residence in Cotonou. The attack was repelled.

Failing to capture the president, they seized the state-run Office de Radiodiffusion et Télévision du Bénin (ORTB), taking control of the national broadcast signal.

The crisis escalated rapidly, but loyalist forces, including the National Guard, responded swiftly, surrounding the television station and isolating the coupists.

By afternoon, security forces had secured key government installations and regained full control of the capital.

President Patrice Talon was reportedly safe at an undisclosed location.

Talon  yesterday appeared on state television  following the attempted coup, saying that the situation was ‘totally under control’.

He thanked security forces who he said acted to end a putsch by what he described as “a small group of soldiers”.

“The rapid mobilisation of forces loyal to the government “allowed us to thwart these adventurers,” Talon said in his remarks aired on state television.

“This treachery will not go unpunished.”

Talon was also on the streets, congratulating the military.

In a statement, the Federal Government described the act as a direct assault on democracy, constitutional order and the collective will of the Republic of Benin people.

Nigeria reassured the government of its full support and continued cooperation.

A statement, signed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, reads: “The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has received with grave concern and unequivocally condemns in the strongest possible terms the attempted forcible seizure of power in our friendly neighbour and brotherly nation, the Republic of Benin, in the early hours of yesterday.

“This act of destabilisation represents a direct assault on democracy, constitutional order, and the collective will of the Beninoise people, who have consistently demonstrated their commitment to peaceful political transitions. Nigeria stands in firm solidarity with the Government and people of the Republic of Benin, and applauds the swift action taken by Beninese authorities to protect its legitimate institutions and preserve the peace.

 “We commend the courage and professionalism of the Beninese security forces in defending the constitutional order and guaranteeing the safety of the President. Their dedication ensured that the unfortunate attempt to subvert democracy was decisively repelled.

 “Nigeria reiterates its strong commitment to the principles of democracy, good governance, and the rule of law as fundamental pillars for peace, development, and regional stability. Unconstitutional changes of government are an unacceptable and retrogressive step that threatens the hard-earned democratic gains and socio-economic progress of our sub-region.

“As a steadfast partner within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union, Nigeria calls on all member states and the international community to unite in condemning this act and in reaffirming our shared commitment to the African Union’s Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, and the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

“We urge all parties in the Republic of Benin to remain calm, uphold the rule of law, and continue to channel any political discourse through peaceful, constitutional, and democratic means.

“The federal government of Nigeria reassures the Government of the Republic of Benin of its full support and continued cooperation as we work together, as brothers and partners, to deepen democracy and ensure lasting peace and prosperity for our peoples and the entire West African region.”

A statement said AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf “strongly and unequivocally condemns the military coup attempt” in Benin, stressing that any form of military interference in political processes is “a grave violation of the fundamental principles and values” of the AU.

The statement also reaffirmed the bloc’s support for Talon, the legitimate authorities of Benin and its people.

It reads: “The African Union stands ready, in coordination with regional and international partners, to accompany the Government and People of Benin toward the full restoration of constitutional normalcy and the strengthening of democratic institutions.”

In a statement issued in Abuja, the West African regional bloc said: “ECOWAS Commission has received with consternation reports of an attempted military takeover in the Republic of Benin.

“ECOWAS strongly condemns this unconstitutional move that represents a subversion of the will of the people of Benin.”

It called on the military to respect Benin’s constitutional order and commended the security forces for their efforts to restore calm.

“ECOWAS calls for the full respect of the Constitution of Benin and salutes the efforts of the government and the Republican Army in bringing the situation under control,” it said, warning that coup plotters would be held accountable.

“ECOWAS holds the leaders of the plot both individually and collectively responsible for any loss to life and property occasioned by their action.”

The bloc also signalled readiness to intervene if necessary, stating: ”ECOWAS will support the government and the people in all forms necessary, including the deployment of the regional standby force to defend the constitution and the territorial integrity of Benin.”

The statement followed the announcement earlier in the day by a group of soldiers identifying themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundation.”

At least eight soldiers, several wearing helmets, appeared on a state television yesterday morning to announce that a military committee led by Col. Tigri Pascal had taken over and was dissolving national institutions, suspending the constitution and closing air, land, and maritime borders.

“The army solemnly commits to give the Beninese people the hope of a truly new era, where fraternity, justice and work prevail,” a statement read by one of the soldiers.

According to media reports, the assault was carried out by a group of soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri.

The situation escalated later in the morning when Col. Tigri appeared on the national television, reported to be under military control, declaring himself “chairman of the military re-establishment committee (CMR).”

Cotonou remained tense yesterday, with eyewitness reports of troop deployments around key strategic locations. No official reaction has been issued by President Talon or his administration regarding the attacks.

The development added to a growing pattern of political instability in West Africa.’

However, Interior Minister Alassane Seidou said in a statement a few hours later that the West African country’s armed forces had thwarted the attempted coup.

The statement reads: “People of Benin, dear compatriots, in the early morning of yesterday, small group of soldiers launched a mutiny with the aim of destabilising the state and its institutions.

“Faced with this situation, the Beninese armed forces and their hierarchy, faithful to their oath, remained committed to the republic.

“Their response allowed them to maintain control of the situation and thwart the attempt.

“Therefore, the government urges the population to go about their business as usual,” he said.

Foreign Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari had earlier told Reuters that “a small group” of soldiers had attempted to overthrow the government but that forces loyal to President Patrice Talon were working to restore order. He said the coup plotters had only managed to take control of state TV.

However, Oluwole Ojewale, an analyst at the Institute of Security Studies, said that through back-channel communications received via the African Union (AU) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), “we can reasonably conclude that the president is in good spirits now and is probably under some high-level security protection right now”.

Ojewale added: “Since the cloud is still foggy, it’s too early for the president to step out”.

He also underscored that an attempt to stage a coup in Benin is going to be an “uphill task” because Nigeria, its larger neighbour and Africa’s largest economy, will not want to be encircled by “hostile” governments and military administrations.

Gunfire could be heard earlier yesterday in several neighbourhoods of Cotonou, the country’s largest city and economic hub, as residents were trying to make their way to church early in the morning.

The French embassy said on Facebook that gunfire had been reported near Talon’s residence in Cotonou and urged citizens to stay at home.

The coup attempt came as Benin was preparing for a presidential election in April next year to mark Talon’s two-term tenure since 2016.

In their TV statement, the soldiers cited the deteriorating security situation in northern Benin “coupled with the disregard and neglect of our fallen brothers-in-arms.”

Talon has been credited with reviving economic growth, but the country has also seen an increasing number of attacks by Jihadist militants that have wreaked havoc in Mali and Burkina Faso.

In April, Benin’s government said that 54 soldiers were killed in an attack in the North by an affiliate of Al Qaeda.

Last month, Benin adopted a new constitution that extended the presidential mandate from five to seven years, in what critics said was a power grab by the ruling coalition, who nominated Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni to be its candidate.

The opposition Democrats party, founded by Talon’s predecessor Thomas Boni Yayi, saw its proposed candidate rejected because of what a court ruled was insufficient backing from lawmakers.

The group of soldiers that claims to have overthrown Talon said all borders in the country have been closed, and political parties have been suspended.

The United States (U.S.) Embassy said in a statement that it was monitoring “reports of gunfire in the city of Cotonou” and “unconfirmed reports” of a military coup.

It urged people to avoid Cotonou and areas near the presidential compound, monitor local media, and steer clear of crowds and demonstrations.

Russia’s Embassy recommended its citizens in the country to “remain at home and observe basic precautions” until the situation in Cotonou becomes clearer.

The French Embassy said gunfire was reported at Camp Guezo, near the presidential residence.

It urged French citizens to remain at home until further notice as a security measure, “while the situation is fully clarified”.

Source: The Nation