About 200 West African soldiers, mainly from Nigeria and Ivory Coast, are currently in Benin to support security operations following Sunday’s failed coup attempt, according to the country’s foreign minister.
Benin’s Foreign Affairs Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari said the foreign troops remain in the country as part of what he described as a “sweep and clean-up operation” aimed at stabilising the situation and preventing further unrest.
The attempted coup was foiled after Nigerian fighter jets were deployed to force mutineers out of a military base and the state television headquarters, where the rebels had announced a takeover. This marks the first time officials have disclosed how many foreign soldiers were involved, although it remains unclear whether some have since withdrawn.
Bakari said troops from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast were deployed under the Ecowas framework to secure key installations and deter any resurgence of violence. An Ivory Coast security source indicated that about 50 Ivorian soldiers were sent as part of the regional deployment.
Authorities have launched a manhunt for those involved in the plot, with reports suggesting the leader of the failed coup has taken refuge in neighbouring Togo. The rebel soldiers accused President Patrice Talon of mismanaging the country, particularly over what they described as a worsening security situation in northern Benin, an area affected by jihadist spillover from Niger and Burkina Faso.
Bakari said that by the time Benin formally requested assistance from its neighbours, the coup attempt had already collapsed, adding that the remaining challenge was to carry out targeted aerial operations without risking civilian lives.
Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar said rapid diplomatic, military and intelligence coordination between Nigeria and Benin played a crucial role in stopping the takeover. Discussions are ongoing about how long the regional forces will remain in Benin, with any decision to be taken jointly with the country’s defence and security services.
The intervention signals a tougher stance by Ecowas, which has faced criticism after a series of successful coups across West Africa. President Patrice Talon, a close ally of Western nations, is due to step down next year after completing his second term, with elections scheduled for April.