The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has strongly condemned an attempted military takeover in the Republic of Benin, warning that it stands ready to deploy regional forces to defend the country’s constitutional order.
This follows a failed coup attempt by armed personnel believed to be renegade soldiers who, on Sunday, tried to overthrow the democratically elected government of President Patrice Talon.
The group reportedly took over the national television station after failing to gain access to the president’s private residence.
Meanwhile, in a statement released on Sunday shortly after the failed coup attempt, the ECOWAS Commission said it “received with consternation reports of an attempted military takeover in the Republic of Benin.”
The regional bloc issued a forceful rebuke to the coup plotters, stating that “ECOWAS strongly condemns this unconstitutional move that represents a subversion of the will of the people of Benin.”
The Commission commended the response of Beninese authorities, noting that “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.”
In a stern warning to those behind the attempted coup, ECOWAS declared that it “holds the leaders of the plot both individually and collectively responsible for any loss to life and property occasioned by their action.”
This statement signals that the regional body may pursue accountability measures against the coup plotters once the situation is fully resolved.
Perhaps most significantly, ECOWAS indicated its readiness to take decisive action to preserve Benin’s democracy. The Commission stated that “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 mention of a potential military deployment underscores the seriousness with which ECOWAS views the threat to constitutional order in Benin, particularly as the region has experienced a wave of military coups in recent years across several member states.
The attempted coup in Benin represents the latest challenge to democratic governance in West Africa, where military takeovers have occurred in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea since 2020. ECOWAS has struggled to reverse these coups and prevent their spread to other member states.
Details about the specific circumstances of the attempted takeover—including the identity of the plotters and the extent of their actions—remain unclear at this time. Beninese authorities have not yet released an official statement on the incident.
News.ng reports that security forces from the National Guard have since regained strategic control of the area and placed the seized broadcast facility under tight security. Local outlet 24 Hours in Benin reported that negotiations are currently ongoing, as the insurgents remain barricaded inside the station.
