BENIN’S COUP FOILED WITH NIGERIA’S MILITARY HELP–BENIN’S FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–Benin’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Olushegun Bakari, revealed that his country sought Nigeria’s military assistance to suppress Sunday’s attempted coup against President Patrice Talon.
KEY DEVELOPMENTS:
– Rapid Military Assistance : Benin turned to Nigeria and other ECOWAS partners for help to prevent a deadly confrontation in Cotonou
– ECOWAS Support : Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Sierra Leone provided support to avert a violent clash in a densely populated area
– Request for Intervention : Made under ECOWAS security protocols to prevent civilian tragedy
– Objective : Show that democracy still stands strong in the region and attacks on constitutional order won’t be tolerated
– Delicate Situation: Insurgents retreated into a barracks near residential neighborhoods, making the situation delicate
– Gratitude : Extended to President Bola Tinubu and other ECOWAS leaders for responding immediately
– Minimal Casualties : Support from regional forces helped prevent rebels from accessing strategic assets like the airport
– Precise Approach : ECOWAS reinforcements enabled Benin to adopt a precise approach, avoiding large-scale assault
– Heavy Equipment : President Talon sought Nigeria’s help to disable rebels’ heavy equipment in the barracks .
Reflecting on the episode, Bakari highlighted the resilience of Benin’s military, describing it as a republican force committed to defending democratic order even when outnumbered.
He also underlined the broader message of regional unity, saying Benin and Nigeria demonstrated that West African states can collectively safeguard democracy against any attempt to undermine it.
“We have proved that working together strengthens our ability to protect democratic governance in the sub-region,” he added
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