200 West African Soldiers Deployed to Benin Amidst Coup Threat

Sat Dec 13 2025 16:24:07 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In response to a failed coup attempt in Benin, approximately 200 soldiers from Nigeria and Ivory Coast have been deployed to assist the government in restoring order. Benin's foreign minister confirmed the deployment aims to support local forces amid ongoing security concerns.

Following a foiled coup attempt in Benin, around 200 soldiers from Nigeria and Ivory Coast have arrived to aid the government in stabilizing the situation. The regional military alliance, Ecowas, has involved these troops to prevent further unrest and to support the local defense forces. The failed coup has sparked a manhunt for those involved, with broader implications for regional democracy.

Some 200 West African soldiers, mainly from Nigeria and Ivory Coast, are in Benin to support the government following Sunday's failed coup, Benin's foreign minister says.

The attempt was foiled after Nigeria deployed fighter jets to drive the mutineers out of a military base and state TV headquarters, where they had declared a takeover.

This is the first time that officials have said how many foreign soldiers were deployed to the country, although it is not clear if some have been withdrawn since Sunday.

Benin's Foreign Affairs Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari on Thursday stated some of the regional troops sent to help had remained in the country as part of the sweep and clean-up operation.

A manhunt for those involved in the plot is under way, with the leader of the failed coup reportedly seeking refuge in neighbouring Togo.

The rebel soldiers criticized President Patrice Talon's management, citing the worsening security situation in northern Benin as justification for their actions.

The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has sent troops from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast to secure key installations and prevent any resurgence of violence.

Nigeria condemned the coup attempt as a direct assault on democracy as its soldiers arrived in Benin.

According to Bakari, approximately 50 soldiers from Ivory Coast participated in the regional deployment. He noted, There are currently around 200 soldiers present, who came to lend a hand at the end of the day to the Beninese defense and security forces..

Tuggar emphasized the swift cooperation between Nigeria and Benin's military was vital in thwarting the coup. Discussions continue about how long regional forces will remain as Bakari insists decisions will involve close collaboration with Benin's defense units.

The French special forces' involvement in thwarting the coup remains unconfirmed.

As successful coups proliferate in the region, Ecowas is making it clear it will not stand by as democratically elected governments are overthrown, with Bakari praising the organization as essential for upholding democracy in the West African region.

Benin’s army has faced challenges near its northern border with insurgency-affected Niger and Burkina Faso in recent years.

President Talon, a close ally of the West, is set to step down after his second term, with elections scheduled for April.