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…Benin Arrests A Dozen Soldiers Over Coup Attempt Months Before Vote
…ECOWAS Deploys Standby Force In Benin
…Nigeria, AU, Regional Bloc Condemn Coup Attempt
…Coup In Benin, Assault On Constitutional Order — Atiku

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the gallantry of Nigeria’s military on Sunday for re­sponding swiftly to the request by the government of Benin Republic to save its 35-year-old democracy from coup plotters who struck on Sunday.

Acting on two separate re­quests from the government of Benin, President Tinubu first or­dered Nigerian Air Force fighter jets to enter the country and take over the airspace to help dislodge the coup plotters from the nation­al TV and a military camp where they had regrouped.

The Republic of Benin, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a note verbal, requested immediate Nigerian air support “in view of the urgency and seriousness of the situation and to safeguard the con­stitutional order, protect national institutions and ensure the secu­rity of the population.”

In the second request, the authorities in Benin requested the deployment of Nigerian Air Force assets within Beninoise airspace for surveillance and rap­id intervention operations under Benin-led coordination.

The Benin government also requested Nigerian ground forces, “strictly for missions approved by the Beninese Command authori­ty in support of the protection of constitutional institutions and the containment of armed groups.”

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, said all the requests have been ful­filled, with Nigerian ground forces now in Benin.

“Ours is to comply with the or­der of the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, President Tinu­bu,” he said.

Constitutional order was up­ended in the Republic of Benin, Nigeria’s neighbour, when some soldiers led by Colonel Pascal Ti­gri announced a coup on Sunday morning. The putschists seized the national TV and claimed they had toppled President Patrice Tal­on and suspended all democratic institutions.

It took some hours before the government’s loyal forces, assist­ed by Nigeria, took control and flushed out the coup plotters from the national TV.

In his remarks after the resto­ration of the democratic and con­stitutional order, President Tinubu saluted the Nigerian armed forces for standing firm as a protector and defender of democracy.

“Today, the Nigerian armed forces stood gallantly as a defend­er and protector of constitutional order in the Republic of Benin on the invitation of the government. Our armed forces acted within the ambit of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. They have helped stabilise a neigh­bouring country and have made us proud of their commitment to sus­taining our democratic values and ideals since 1999. Nigeria stands firmly with the government and people of the Republic of Benin.”

Benin Arrests A Dozen Soldiers Over Coup Attempt Months Before Vote

Meanwhile, about a dozen soldiers were arrested in Benin following a failed coup attempt on Sunday, military and security sources said.

The Benin presidential election is scheduled for April 2026.

This is coming as the govern­ment of Benin said it foiled the attempted coup by members of the West African nation’s armed forces.

“The Beninese armed forces and their leadership, true to their oath, remained committed to the Republic,” Interior Minister Alas­sane Seidou said in a televised address.

Earlier on Sunday, a group of soldiers made a broadcast in which they said they had ousted Presi­dent Patrice Talon. Eyewitnesses said that gunfire was heard near the presidential residence and said some journalists working for the state broadcaster had been held hostage for a few hours.

A presidential adviser already said the president was in a safe location.

 French diplomats denied earli­er reports that he had taken refuge at France’s embassy in Cotonou, Benin’s largest city and the seat of the country’s government.

There have been a series of coups in West Africa before Sun­day’s thwarted attempt in Benin, heightening fears that the security of the region could worsen.

Benin, a former French colony, has been regarded as one of Afri­ca’s more stable democracies. But Talon has faced accusations of sup­pressing criticism of his policies.

The nation is one of the conti­nent’s largest cotton producers, but ranks among the world’s poorest countries.

Seidou said in his address that “a small group of soldiers launched a mutiny aimed at destabilising the state and its institutions”, adding that loyalist soldiers had been able “to retain control of the situation and foil the attempt”.

Fourteen people have been arrested in connection with the attempted coup, government spokesperson Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji said.

A journalist in Benin said that, of those reportedly arrested, 12 are believed to have stormed the offices of the national TV station – including a soldier who had pre­viously been sacked.

Earlier, helicopters were seen flying over Cotonou and roads were blocked with a heavy military presence on several streets.

The French and Russian embassies urged their citizens to remain indoors, while the US embassy’s advice was to stay away from Cotonou, especially the area around the presidential compound.

The rebel soldiers, led by Lt Col Pascal Tigri, justified their actions by criticising Talon’s management of the country, complaining first about his handling of the “continu­ing deterioration of the security situation in northern Benin”.

Benin’s army has suffered los­es near its northern border with insurgency-hit Niger and Burkina Faso in recent years, as jihadist militants linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda spread southwards.

The soldier’s statement cited “the ignorance and neglect of the situation of our brothers in arms who have fallen at the front and, above all, that of their families, abandoned to their sad fate by Mr Patrice Talon’s policies”.

The rebels also hit out at cuts in health care, including the can­cellation of state-funded kidney dialysis, and taxes rises, as well as curbs on political activities.

Talon, 67, who is regarded as a close ally of the West, is due to step down next year after completing his second term in office, with elec­tions scheduled for April.

A businessman known as the “king of cotton”, he first came to power in 2016. He promised not to seek a third term, despite Benin’s current two-term limit for presi­dencies, and has endorsed Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni as his successor.

Talon has been praised by his supporters for overseeing eco­nomic development, but his gov­ernment has also been criticised for suppressing dissenting voices.

In October, Benin’s electoral commission barred the main op­position candidate from standing on the grounds that he did not have enough sponsors.

Last month, constitutional amendments were passed by MPs, including the creation of a second parliamentary chamber, the Senate.

Terms for elected officials were extended from five to seven years, but the presidential two-term limit remained in place.

Sunday’s attempted coup comes just over a week after Guinea-Bis­sau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embaló was overthrown – though some regional figures have ques­tioned whether this was staged.

In recent years, West Africa has also seen coups in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger, prompt­ing concerns about the region’s stability.

Russia has strengthened its ties with these Sahel countries over re­cent years – and Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have left the West Afri­can regional bloc Ecowas to form their own group, the Alliance of Sahel States.

Nigerian Govt Condemns Coup In Benin Republic

Meanwhile, the Nigerian gov­ernment has condemned the at­tempted coup.

A statement by Kimiebi Imo­motimi Ebienfa, Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, “Nigeria 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 Sun­day 7th December, 2025.

“This act of destabilisation represents a direct assault on de­mocracy, constitutional order, and the collective will of the Beninese 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.”

ECOWAS Condemns Attempted Coup

Similarly, the Economic Com­munity of West African States (ECOWAS) has condemned in strongest terms the attempt to re­move President Talon.

ECOWAS in a statement on Sunday said it frowned at the coup attempt which the Ministry of For­eign Affairs said had been foiled.

The statement from the re­gional group reads, “ECOWAS Commission has received with consternation reports of an at­tempted military take-over in the Republic of Benin.

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

The regional body 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.

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

“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.”

Meanwhile, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission has deployed a standby force in Benin Republic to forestall break­down of law and order and safe­guard constitutional democracy in the West African country.

The deployment followed the unsuccessfully attempt by a faction of the military to oust President Patrice Tallon in the early hours of Sunday.

A second statement by ECOW­AS Commission highlighted ac­tion taken to forestall democracy in Benin Republic.

The statement reads: “Further to its earlier statement on the Re­public of Benin, the ECOWAS Commission hereby informs the general public that:

“Persuant to the provisions of relevant ECOWAS instruments, in particular Article 25(e) of the 1999 Protocol Relating to the Mecha­nism for Conflict Prevention, Man­agement, Resolution Peacekeeping and Security, and after consultation among members of the Mediation and Security Council at the level of Heads of State and Government, the Chair of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government has ordered the deployment of el­ements of the ECOWAS Standby Force to the Republic of Benin with immediate effect.

“The Regional Force shall be made up of troops from the Fed­eral Republic of Nigeria, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Cote Divoire, and Republic of Ghana.

“The Force shall support the government and the Republican Army of Benin to preserve con­stitutional order and the territo­rial integrity of the Republic of Benin.”

African Union Condemns Benin Coup Attempt, Expresses Support For Govt

The African Union (AU) con­demned a coup attempt in Benin on Sunday, expressing support for the government in upholding con­stitutional order.

AU Commission Chair Mah­moud Ali Youssouf urged coup plotters to immediately halt “all unlawful actions,” respect Benin’s constitution, and promptly return to their barracks and professional duties, according to a statement.

Youssouf voiced “deep con­cern” over the rising number of military coups and attempted coups in the region, lamenting that such actions undermine continen­tal stability, threaten democratic gains, and encourage military ac­tors to act beyond constitutional authority.

He reaffirmed the AU’s “zero tolerance stance toward any un­constitutional change of govern­ment, regardless of context or justification.”

Coup In Benin, Assault On Constitutional Order– Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the attempted coup d’etat in Benin Re­public, describing it as an assault on constitutional order.

In a statement on Sunday, Atiku said, “I condemn, without reserva­tion and in the strongest possible terms, the coup d’état in the Benin Republic. This reckless trend of assault on constitutional order is utterly unacceptable, not only be­cause of its dangerous proximity, but because the era of military in­terference in governance is long over in Africa and our sub-region. It is concerning that these coups are happening around election times in the affected countries.

“The Benin presidential elec­tion is scheduled for April 2026 while the purported military take over in Guinea-Bissau happened on the eve of the expected an­nouncement of the results of that country’s poll.

“It raises fears that some po­litical operators may be using the military to cancel the democratic processes. This trend is dangerous for the health of democracy in the West African sub-region and must be stopped before it becomes the rule and not the exception. Sol­diers have no business anywhere outside their barracks, and every decisive measure must be taken to crush any emerging appetite for subverting democracy.”