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Ecowas acts swiftly to prevent Benin takeover
West African leaders deployed air strikes and ground troops on Sunday to crush an attempted military coup in Benin, marking the ninth such plot in the region since 2020. The rapid intervention underscored growing alarm over persistent instability across West Africa.
Air strikes and troop deployment
Nigerian warplanes targeted rebel forces occupying Benin's state broadcaster and a military base near Cotonou's airport, while ground troops from Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Sierra Leone reinforced loyalist units. The operation followed early-morning attacks on President Patrice Talon's residence and government offices, which loyalist troops repelled before securing key districts.
Despite initial successes, resistance persisted at rebel strongholds. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu authorized airstrikes after reports emerged of mutineers using lethal force against civilians, including the death of the wife of Talon's military adviser.
Regional tensions and past failures
The coup attempt unfolded days after Guinea-Bissau's military seized power during a disputed presidential vote count. Ecowas leaders, determined to avoid a repeat of Niger's 2023 coup-where delayed action allowed junta consolidation-moved within hours. Analysts noted the contrast: Talon remained in control, enabling a legitimate request for regional assistance.
Benin's history of peaceful protest and democratic transition since the 1990s further bolstered public support for Ecowas's intervention. Unlike recent coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger-where juntas withdrew from Ecowas-Benin's population overwhelmingly rejected the putschists' televised grievances, which echoed broader discontent over political exclusion and economic hardship.
Local grievances, regional patterns
While West Africa grapples with Islamist insurgencies, economic stagnation, and youth unemployment, each coup stems from distinct national dynamics. In Benin, opposition party Les Démocrates was barred from upcoming elections, but public anger focused on the coup's violence rather than Talon's policies. The president, who pledged to step down in April, has overseen economic growth despite accusations of democratic backsliding.
Contrastingly, Guinea's 2021 coup enjoyed widespread support after President Alpha Condé's violent crackdowns and controversial third term. Similarly, Mali and Burkina Faso's juntas capitalized on frustration with ineffective counterterrorism efforts and French military presence, while Niger's 2023 putsch reflected backlash against corruption probes and French security partnerships.
Aftermath and manhunt
Security forces rescued two abducted military officials on Tuesday but continue searching for coup leader Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri. Casualty reports remain unverified, though public sentiment has turned sharply against the rebels. Ecowas's decisive action signals a shift from its 2023 Niger missteps, where hesitation allowed the junta to entrench power.
"This was a calculated gamble by disgruntled officers, but they misread Benin's democratic resilience," a regional security analyst told The Meta Times.
Broader implications
The coup wave reflects deeper crises: jihadist expansion into coastal states, elite corruption, and eroding trust in civilian governance. Yet Benin's case highlights how local context-political culture, economic performance, and public sentiment-determines outcomes. While Ecowas's intervention may deter future plots, the underlying drivers of instability persist.
