Foiled coup attempt in Benin: Nigeria lent a helping hand in the response
Nigerian air forces deployed a fighter to Benin to carry out aerial reconnaissance after a coup attempt was foiled Sunday morning in Benin, the Beninese government and the national armed forces announced.
A coup attempt was foiled Sunday morning in Benin, the Beninese government and national armed forces said. In the early hours, a group of soldiers seized the public television studios and broadcast a message proclaiming the removal of President Patrice Talon, the suspension of the Constitution and the dissolution of institutions. They promised the establishment of a “Comité militaire pour la refondation (CMR)”, under the announced leadership of Lieutenant-Colonel Pascal Tigri.
But the uprising was quickly brought under control. According to Interior Minister Alassane Seidou, the Beninese armed forces — faithful to their oath — responded, retook control of the state television and quelled the mutiny. The situation was restored to calm in Cotonou, although gunfire was reported near the presidential palace.
In support of Beninese authorities, the regional neighbor Nigeria deployed air assets and sent ground troops after the presidency in Abuja received a request for assistance. Targeted airstrikes hit positions held by the putschists — notably a military camp and the national television facilities — to dislodge them. The Nigerian fighter has already begun patrolling Benin’s airspace, the Vanguard newspaper reported, citing sources within security services.
According to those sources, this measure is a preventive action aimed at assessing potential security threats in the region and ensuring the protection of Nigeria’s national interests. “The aircraft has already been deployed to Benin. Nigeria is closely monitoring the evolution of the situation and assessing potential risks. This is not an offensive operation, but a strategic response to a developing situation,” the newspaper quoted a senior Nigerian security official as saying.
Indeed, the Nigerian presidency confirmed Sunday evening that it carried out airstrikes in Cotonou and deployed ground troops, at the request of its Beninese neighbor, to in particular “safeguard the constitutional order” and counter a coup attempt. In a statement, the presidency said that the Nigerian head of state, Bola Tinubu, ordered combat aircraft to enter Beninese airspace to help “dislodge the putschists from the national television and from a military camp where they had gathered”, as well as the deployment of ground troops.
Shortly after, the Beninese head of state said that “the situation is under control” and promised that this “act will not go unpunished.” Several mutinous soldiers have been arrested. The regional organization ECOWAS strongly condemned the action.
This attempted coup comes less than five months before the presidential election scheduled for April 2026, at a time when Benin is experiencing a period of intense political and security tensions, in a regional context marked by a resurgence of power grabs by force.
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