West Africa is currently navigating a period of intense political volatility, marked by a series of military takeovers since 2020 across the Sahel, Guinea, and recently Guinea-Bissau.
Military administrations in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali have signaled a sharp departure from traditional relations with France, the former colonial power in the region.
Beyond providing assistance to the national military in Bénin, the Élysée indicated that President Emmanuel Macron has been actively coordinating and sharing intelligence with regional leaders.
On Sunday, Macron communicated with his counterpart in Bénin, Patrice Talon—the target of the failed uprising—as well as the heads of state in Nigeria and Sierra Leone, with the latter currently chairing ECOWAS.
An advisor to the French presidency informed reporters that France has extended its full political endorsement to ECOWAS, which played a pivotal role during the weekend’s events.
The crisis unfolded on Sunday morning when eight uniformed men appeared on Bénin’s national broadcaster to announce the ousting of Patrice Talon. After hours of uncertainty in Cotonou, the president declared that the government had firmly regained authority. However, local officials later confirmed that clashes between loyalist troops and the mutineers resulted in several deaths.
Assistance from neighboring Nigeria proved decisive in restoring order. Nigerian forces conducted airstrikes on the Togbin base in the economic capital, where the rebels had retreated following their televised statement.
Furthermore, Abuja deployed ground units that participated in the successful retaking of the military facility during the night between Sunday and Monday.
Concerns over electoral inclusivity
In response to the unrest, ECOWAS announced the deployment of military reinforcements from four member nations to uphold the constitutional order, though the specific size of the force was not disclosed.
Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, stated on Tuesday that the regional community is facing a “state of emergency,” citing the dual threats of military coups and the spread of jihadist groups.
While approximately twelve soldiers have been apprehended, several key figures behind the plot, including Lieutenant-Colonel Pascal Tigri, are still missing.
The rebels had managed to take two high-ranking officials hostage: Army Chief of Staff Abou Issa and National Guard Chief of Staff Faïzou Gomina. Both were successfully released on Monday.
Daily activities have resumed in Cotonou, the primary economic hub of this West African nation, which Patrice Talon has led since 2016.
Talon is scheduled to step down following the presidential election in April, as he reaches the two-term limit mandated by the Constitution.
Although he is recognized for driving economic progress in Bénin, critics often accuse him of steering the country toward authoritarianism, despite its historical reputation as a vibrant democracy.
The current Finance Minister, Romuald Wadagni, is considered the frontrunner for the upcoming vote. Meanwhile, the primary opposition group, Les Démocrates, has been excluded from the race due to a lack of necessary sponsorships.
On Tuesday, Thomas Boni Yayi, the former president and current head of Les Démocrates, expressed his strong disapproval of the attempted takeover.
“I condemn this violent and disgraceful attack on our nation with the utmost severity,” he stated, while also calling for the organization of transparent and open elections.
Touray further observed that elections have become a significant source of instability in the region, noting a concerning decline in electoral inclusivity across several ECOWAS member states.
