By Abubakar Hashim
ECOWAS Chairman Maada Bio has, effective yesterday December 7, 2025, authorised deployment of “ elements of ECOWAS standby force to Benin, to support the government and the Army of Benin. This is to preserve constitutional order and territorial integrity “, a statement by ECOWAS Headquarters dated December 7, 2025.
“The regional force will comprise troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Cotedivoire and Ghana”.
Benin President Patrice Tallon, who has been in protective custody in the French Embassy in Cotonou, appeared on state TV late last night, stating “situation now under control and vowed that the treachery will not go unpunished”
His spokesman, Wilfred Houngbedhi, confirmed 14 people have been arrested in the coup attempt.
Two Nigerian Air Force fighter jets (on invitation by Benin) were spotted over Cotonou airspace, a move to support Benin armed forces to quell the mutiny.
The reasons for the coup are sketchy. The coup leader, Col Pascal Tigri, had earlier revealed that “neglect of fallen colleagues and families in the fight against Jihadists, cuts in health care and tax rises, coupled with political alienation by President Talon, are among the reasons for the coup”
The Benin coup attempt is coming on the heels of a putsch in Guinea Bissau a few days ago.
Former Guinea Bissau President, Umaro Sissoci Embalo, announced the coup himself on November 26, 2025, when he noticed an electoral victory of his opponent, Fernando Dias, was imminent at the elections on November 23, 2025.
The electoral commission had planned to announce the results when Embalo announced the coup a day before
Among Guinea Bissau coup leaders and the 28-member cabinet are Embalo’s associates and close allies, including the Prime Minister, who was his Finance Minister.
Benin President Talon has ruled for 10 years. He will not contest for 3rd term, in an election that is scheduled for January and April 2026, for both parliamentary and presidential.
Today, 5 countries and among ECOWAS 15 members, are governed by military – Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Guinea and recently Guinea Bissau
Guinea is the only country planning a civilian election in December 2025, while Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have pulled out of ECOWAS to form the Alliance of Sahel Srates AES
*Abubakar Hashim is our West Africa Bureau Chie
Leave a Reply