ECOWAS Deploys Standby Force to Benin Amid Foiled Coup Attempt: Troops from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Côte d’Ivoire En Route
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has ordered the immediate deployment of its Standby Force to the Republic of Benin, bolstering the government’s efforts to restore order following a failed military coup attempt on Sunday that briefly threatened President Patrice Talon’s administration.
The decision, announced in a statement from the ECOWAS Commission on December 7, 2025, was made pursuant to Article 25(e) of the 1999 Protocol on Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Security, after urgent consultations among the Mediation and Security Council at the level of Heads of State and Government. The Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government directed the rapid mobilization to support Benin’s Republican Army in preserving constitutional governance and territorial integrity.
“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,” the statement read.
The multinational contingent will comprise troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana, though exact numbers and timelines remain undisclosed for operational security. Nigeria has already contributed air force jets to secure Benin’s airspace and ground troops to assist in dislodging plotters from key sites, including the state television headquarters.
Background: The Thwarted Coup
The crisis unfolded early on December 7, 2025, when a faction of soldiers, styling themselves the Military Committee for Refoundation (MCR) and led by Lieutenant-Colonel Pascal Tigri, seized ORTB state television in Cotonou. They declared Talon’s ouster, suspended the constitution, closed all borders and airspace, and banned political parties, citing grievances over poor governance, security lapses in northern Benin, and arbitrary arrests.
Gunfire erupted near Talon’s residence in Porto-Novo and the Camp Guézo military barracks, with armored vehicles patrolling the presidential palace. However, loyalist forces swiftly counterattacked, retaking the TV station by midday. Benin’s Interior Minister Alassane Seidou confirmed the mutiny was “foiled,” with plotters “holed up” and being neutralized. Talon addressed the nation, assuring citizens of his safety and the army’s loyalty.
ECOWAS condemned the “unconstitutional move” as a threat to regional democracy, holding the plot’s leaders accountable for any casualties.
Regional Implications and Expert Caution
This intervention underscores ECOWAS’s renewed resolve to combat the wave of coups in West Africa — including recent takeovers in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso — amid criticisms of the bloc’s past hesitancy. However, Prof. Vladimir Antwi-Danso, an international relations expert, warned against a “knee-jerk reaction,” urging thorough intelligence to avoid risks to troop-contributing nations like Ghana.
“ECOWAS must strategize, not rush troops. Casualties among Ghanaian contingents would have severe domestic repercussions,” Antwi-Danso stated.
The deployment is expected to enhance stability ahead of Benin’s April 2026 elections, with further ECOWAS updates promised as the situation evolves.
