Approximately 200 West African soldiers, primarily from Nigeria and Ivory Coast, are present in Benin following an attempted coup on Sunday. Benin's Foreign Affairs Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari stated on Thursday that these troops remain in the country for a "sweep and clean-up operation."
The coup attempt involved mutineers taking control of a military base and state television headquarters, where they declared a takeover. Nigeria responded by deploying fighter jets, which reportedly drove the mutineers from these locations. The number of foreign soldiers deployed was confirmed by officials for the first time, though it is unclear if any have been withdrawn since Sunday.
A manhunt for individuals involved in the plot is underway, with reports indicating the alleged leader of the failed coup has sought refuge in neighboring Togo. The soldiers who initiated the coup criticized President Patrice Talon's administration, citing concerns over the security situation in northern Benin.
The West African regional bloc, Ecowas, deployed troops from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast to secure key installations and prevent further violence. Nigeria, which shares a border with Benin to the east, confirmed its soldiers arrived on Sunday. An Ivory Coast security source reported that 50 soldiers from their country were part of this regional deployment.
Minister Bakari, speaking in Abuja, Nigeria, alongside Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, clarified that by the time Beninese forces requested assistance, the coup attempt had largely failed. He stated that the regional intervention, under Ecowas protocol, was for "precise aerial back-up" to conduct a targeted operation without risking civilian casualties. Minister Tuggar noted that swift diplomatic, military, and intelligence actions between Nigeria and Benin contributed to countering the coup.
Discussions are ongoing regarding the duration of the regional forces' presence. Bakari indicated that any decision would be made in collaboration with Benin's defense and security forces. Reports also suggest that French special forces assisted loyalist troops in thwarting the coup.
Ecowas has adopted a firm stance against military overthrows of democratically elected governments in the region. Benin's army has experienced losses in its northern border region with insurgency-affected Niger and Burkina Faso due, as jihadist groups linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda have expanded southward. President Talon is scheduled to conclude his second term in 2025, with elections planned for April of that year.