Some 200 West African soldiers, mainly from Nigeria and Ivory Coast, are in Benin to support the government following Sunday’s failed coup, Benin's foreign minister says.
The attempt was foiled after Nigeria deployed fighter jets to drive the mutineers out of a military base and state TV headquarters, where they had declared a takeover.
This is the first time that officials have confirmed the number of foreign soldiers deployed to the country, although it is unclear if some have been withdrawn since Sunday.
Benin’s Foreign Affairs Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari stated that some of the regional troops sent to help had remained in the country 'as part of the sweep and clean-up operation.'
A manhunt for those involved in the plot is underway, with the leader of the failed coup reportedly taking refuge in neighboring Togo.
The rebel soldiers justified their actions by criticizing President Patrice Talon’s management amid an ongoing deterioration of security 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 a resurgence of violence.
Nigeria characterized the coup attempt as a 'direct assault on democracy' and confirmed that its soldiers arrived in Benin on Sunday.
An Ivory Coast security source indicated that 50 soldiers from the country are part of the regional response.
Bakari suggested that by the time the Beninese forces called for assistance, the coup had already failed. He emphasized that the intervention aimed at precise aerial backup to conduct a surgical operation targeting key positions of the coup plotters while minimizing civilian casualties.
The swift diplomatic, military, and intelligence efforts between Nigeria and Benin proved instrumental in thwarting the coup.
The duration of regional forces’ presence in Benin is still under discussion, but collaboration with Benin's defense and security forces will guide any decisions made.
Despite the local challenges, ECOWAS is signaling a strong commitment to protecting democratically elected governments from military takeovers, a trend that has spread across the region.
Benin's army has faced challenges from jihadist militants in its northern border regions as security concerns rise.
President Talon is expected to complete his term next year, with elections scheduled for April.
