A coup attempt in Benin was thwarted on Sunday, June 9, by the country’s armed forces, prompting both a national and regional response to restore order and uphold constitutional rule.
A group of soldiers calling themselves the Military Committee for Refoundation appeared on Benin’s state television to declare the dissolution of the government. Sporadic gunfire was heard earlier that day in Cotonou, the administrative capital. In response, Interior Minister Alassane Seidou said in a video posted on Facebook that the attempt had been “foiled.”
Benin President Patrice Talon, in his first televised appearance following the incident, said the situation was “totally under control.” His broadcast on Bénin Télévision came after a brief delay, during which unrelated news segments were aired while officials worked to stabilize the broadcast.
At the request of President Talon’s administration, Nigeria intervened militarily to assist in dislodging the coup plotters from strategic locations, including the state broadcaster and a military camp. A statement from Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s office confirmed that fighter jets had taken control of Benin’s airspace and that ground troops were also deployed.
Nigeria’s Air Force spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the intervention was in line with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocols and its standby force mandate.
ECOWAS, the regional bloc of West African nations, strongly condemned the attempted coup and announced the immediate deployment of troops from four member states—Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Sierra Leone. In a statement, the bloc said the forces were sent to “support the Government and the Republican Army of Benin to preserve constitutional order and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Benin.”
France discredited social media rumors claiming that senior Beninese officials sought refuge in its embassy in Cotonou. Foreign affairs spokesperson Pascal Confavreux posted on social media that “France is closely monitoring the situation and recommends its nationals remain at home.”
As of Monday, 14 individuals, most of them active-duty soldiers, had been arrested in connection with the coup plot, according to a government spokesperson who spoke to Reuters. Military and security sources told Agence France-Presse that one of those detained was a former soldier, while the others were currently serving.
Analysts note that the attempted coup comes amid ongoing social discontent, growing jihadist threats in northern Benin, and ahead of a presidential election. Beverly Ochieng, a senior analyst at Control Risks, told France 24 that the incident poses a significant test to the country’s institutions and highlights broader regional instability in West Africa.
In a separate statement, ECOWAS added, “ECOWAS strongly condemns this unconstitutional move that represents a subversion of the will of the people of Benin … 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.”
