A senior government official in Benin has told the BBC that the leader of Sunday's failed coup is taking refuge in neighbouring Togo. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said that the government would request Lt Col Pascal Tigri's extradition. Togo's government has not yet commented.
The failed coup came after a series of military takeovers in West Africa, raising concern that democracy is increasingly under threat in the region. It was thwarted after regional power Nigeria sent fighter jets to dislodge the mutineers from a military base and the offices of state TV following a request from President Patrice Talon's government.
A group of soldiers appeared on state TV early on Sunday to announce they had seized power, and gunfire was heard near the presidential residence. French special forces also helped loyalist troops to thwart the coup, as confirmed by the head of Benin's republican guard.
Dieudonne Djimon Tevoedjre said Benin's troops were 'truly valiant and faced the enemy all day' on Sunday. He added that French special forces were sent from Ivory Coast for mopping up operations after the Beninese army had done the job, though government spokesman Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji could not confirm the deployment of French forces.
The official confirmation that Lt Col Pascal Tigri is in Togo's capital, Lomé, suggests he may be in proximity to President Faure Gnassingbé. 'We don't know how to explain this but we will make an official extradition request,' added the official.
The West African regional bloc, Ecowas, has condemned the coup attempt and has deployed troops from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast to secure key installations in Benin, marking a firm stance against unconstitutional changes in power.
Benin, regarded as a stable democracy in Africa, is facing a significant challenge as the country's government continues to deal with internal discontent related to security issues and economic burdens, all while preparing for elections scheduled for April next year.
The failed coup came after a series of military takeovers in West Africa, raising concern that democracy is increasingly under threat in the region. It was thwarted after regional power Nigeria sent fighter jets to dislodge the mutineers from a military base and the offices of state TV following a request from President Patrice Talon's government.
A group of soldiers appeared on state TV early on Sunday to announce they had seized power, and gunfire was heard near the presidential residence. French special forces also helped loyalist troops to thwart the coup, as confirmed by the head of Benin's republican guard.
Dieudonne Djimon Tevoedjre said Benin's troops were 'truly valiant and faced the enemy all day' on Sunday. He added that French special forces were sent from Ivory Coast for mopping up operations after the Beninese army had done the job, though government spokesman Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji could not confirm the deployment of French forces.
The official confirmation that Lt Col Pascal Tigri is in Togo's capital, Lomé, suggests he may be in proximity to President Faure Gnassingbé. 'We don't know how to explain this but we will make an official extradition request,' added the official.
The West African regional bloc, Ecowas, has condemned the coup attempt and has deployed troops from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast to secure key installations in Benin, marking a firm stance against unconstitutional changes in power.
Benin, regarded as a stable democracy in Africa, is facing a significant challenge as the country's government continues to deal with internal discontent related to security issues and economic burdens, all while preparing for elections scheduled for April next year.
