Troops, including soldiers from neighbouring Nigeria, are to support the government and protect the country’s constitutional order, ECOWAS said in a statement.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said in a statement that the Nigerian air force had been operating at Benin’s request to secure the airspace and carry out rapid missions in coordination with the neighbouring country.

The forces had acted under the ECOWAS mandate and thereby defended constitutional order in Benin, he said.

Benin had also requested ground troops to protect the government and counter armed groups, and Nigerian ground forces are now already in the country, Tinubu added.

Nigerian fighter jets helped drive the coup plotters from the state television building and from a military base, the statement said.

Media reports said there were explosions following suspected airstrikes in the port city of Cotonou, where the government is based.

Benin’s President Patrice Talon said on Sunday evening that the situation was now fully under control, according to media reports.

He thanked the armed forces and military leadership for remaining loyal to the country and the constitution.

The coup attempt would not go unpunished, he said on state television.

Shots had earlier been heard near the presidential palace.

A group of military officers seized the national television broadcaster and declared Talon deposed.

The soldiers said the country’s borders had been closed and Lt.-Col. Pascal Tigri had been appointed president of a “military reconstruction commission.”

Source: dpa/NAN

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The post ECOWAS troops deployed in Benin after foiled coup appeared first on Frontpageng.

The role of the Nigerian Army in dislodging the coup plotters in Benin Republic was made known on Sunday in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.

The presidential aide said his principal, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had commended the gallantry of Nigeria’s military for responding swiftly to the request by the Government of Benin Republic.

The response, the president was quoted as saying, saved Benin Republic’s 35-year-old democracy from coup plotters who struck at dawn.

He said acting on two separate requests from the Government of Benin, President Tinubu first ordered Nigerian Air Force fighter jets to enter the country and take over the airspace to help dislodge the coup plotters from the National TV and a military camp where they had regrouped.

He said the Republic of Benin, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a Note Verbal, also requested immediate Nigerian air support “in view of the urgency and seriousness of the situation and to safeguard the constitutional order, protect national institutions and ensure the security of the population.”

In the second request, the authorities in Benin was said to have requested the deployment of Nigerian Air Force assets within Beninoise airspace for surveillance and rapid intervention operations under Benin-led coordination.

The Benin government also requested Nigerian ground forces, “strictly for missions approved by the Beninese Command authority in support of the protection of constitutional institutions and the containment of armed Groups.”

Onanuga said Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, said all the requests had been fulfilled, with Nigerian ground forces already in Benin.

“Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, President Tinubu,” he was quoted as saying.

Onanuga said constitutional order was upended in the Republic of Benin, Nigeria’s neighbour, when some soldiers led by Colonel Pascal Tigri announced a coup on Sunday morning.

The putschists seized the National TV and claimed they had toppled President Patrice Talon and suspended all democratic institutions.

It took some hours before the government’s loyal forces, assisted by Nigeria, took control and flushed out the coup plotters from the National TV.

In his remarks after the restoration of the democratic and constitutional order,  President Tinubu saluted the Nigerian armed forces for standing firm as a protector and defender of democracy.

“Today, the Nigerian armed forces stood gallantly as a defender and protector of constitutional order in the Republic of Benin on the invitation of the government. Our armed forces acted within the ambit of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. They have helped stabilise a neighbouring country and have made us proud of their commitment to sustaining our democratic values and ideals since 1999. Nigeria stands firmly with the government and people of the Republic of Benin.”

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The Minister of Interior and Public Security, Alassane Seidou, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

A group of soldiers announced earlier in the day on state broadcaster, Benin TV, that President Patrice Talon had been “removed from office.”

According to the minister, the armed forces and their command, “faithful to their oath,” responded in a republican manner and were able to keep the situation under control.

He called on the public to continue with their normal activities.

Source: Xinhua/NAN

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The post BREAKING: Benin govt says coup attempt thwarted by loyal forces appeared first on Frontpageng.

A message from the French embassy in Benin said gunfire had been reported near the residence of the president in the main city of Cotonou, which is the seat of government.

The soldiers also announced a suspension of the constitution, the closure of all land borders as well as the country’s airspace.

But officials close to the president say he is fine and that the small group of soldiers at the TV station did not have the backing of the regular army.

“The situation is under control. A large part of the army is still loyalist – and we are taking over the situation,” Foreign Minister Shegun Adjadi Bakari told Reuters news agency.

An unnamed person in the presidency told the AFP news agency: “This is a small group of people who only control the television. The city and the country are completely secure.”

The whereabouts of the president is unclear.

Helicopters have been seen flying over Cotonou and roads are blocked with a heavy military presence on several streets in the city.

Benin, a former French colony, has been regarded as one of Africa’s more stable democracies.

It is one of the continent’s largest cotton producers, but ranks among the world’s poorest countries.

The rise of military coups in Africa

The French and Russian embassies have urged their citizens to stay indoors for their safety.

The US embassy said it was monitoring the situation and its advice was to stay away from Cotonou, especially the area around the presidential compound.

According to the statement read out by the soldiers, Lieutenant-Colonel Tigri Pascal will be leading a military transition council.

They justified their actions by criticising President Talon’s management of the country.

“The army solemnly commits to give the Beninese people the hope of a truly new era, where fraternity, justice and work prevail,” said a statement read by one of the soldiers.

Talon, who is 67 and regarded as a close ally of the West, is due to step down next year after completing his second term in office, with elections scheduled for April.

A businessman known as the “king of cotton”, he first came to power in an election in 2016.

He promised not to seek a third term and has endorsed Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni as his successor.

Talon has been praised by supporters for overseeing economic development, but his government has also come in for criticism for suppressing dissenting voices.

In October the electoral commission barred the main opposition candidate from standing on the grounds that he did not have enough sponsors.

Last month, several constitutional amendments were passed by MPs, including the creation of a second parliamentary chamber, the Senate.

Terms of office for elected officials were extended from five to seven years, but the presidential two-term limit remained in place.

AFP Beninese President Patrice Talon attends a joint press conference in Cotonou on July 27, 2022,AFP

President Patrice Talon, a businessman known as the “king of cotton”, has said he intends step down next year after two terms in office

This apparent coup in Benin comes just over a week after Umaro Sissoco Embaló was overthrown as president in nearby Guinea-Bissau.

In recent years, there have been several coups in West Africa, including in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger, heightening fears that the security of the region could worsen.

Russia has strengthened its ties with these Sahel countries over recent years – and Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have left the West African regional bloc ECOWAS to form their own group, the Alliance of Sahel States.

According to BBC Monitoring, news of the apparent coup was hailed by several pro-Russian influencer accounts on social media.

Benin has seen a rise in jihadist activity in recent years, as groups linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda spread to the south.

Source: BBC

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The post Benin: Soldiers say they have seized power from President Talon appeared first on Frontpageng.

The signing ceremony, witnessed by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and Benin Republic President Patrice Talon, occurred at the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit, WAES, in Abuja.

Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, signed the agreement, alongside Benin’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Shadiya Alimatou Assouman, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Shegun Adjadi Bakari.

President Talon declared that the move signified a bold step toward real, actionable regional integration.

“President Tinubu and I have agreed on full integration between Benin and Nigeria. The responsibility now lies with our ministers to implement it. Benin and Nigeria are more than twins—we are the same people. Let us show the region that integration is possible,” he said.

Earlier in his remarks, President Talon called for urgent reforms to rescue West Africa’s stalled regional integration, describing the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, as “in crisis.”

“ECOWAS is a perfect example of regional integration. Unfortunately, our ECOWAS is in crisis right now,” he said.

He cited the West African Gas Pipeline, which was designed to enhance regional energy cooperation, as an example of failure due to administrative bottlenecks:

“It is ridiculous. This failure of regional cooperation wastes resources and undermines integration,” he said.

As a result of these delays, Talon said Benin had had to source gas from Qatar via a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit, FSRU.

On the West African Power Pool, another regional initiative, he said: “We invested heavily in this infrastructure. But it is not functioning as expected. Unless we act decisively, I’m not confident it ever will.”

President Talon also addressed logistical obstacles along the Lagos–Abidjan Corridor, which unnecessary border checks and harassment have hampered.

“The road exists. But a businessman should be able to travel from Lagos to Abidjan in hours—not days—without facing harassment at multiple checkpoints. That is not integration,” the Beninois leader declared.

He warned that poverty remained the region’s most dangerous destabilising force.

“Poverty is the main threat to democracy, security, and stability. If we do not address poverty through integration, our values will remain hollow.”

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Referencing changing global trade dynamics, President Talon cited U.S. President Donald Trump’s protectionist policies as a signal for African nations to prioritise their interests.

“The trade war should remind us that nations act in their interest, and so should we. At some point, we may even have to thank President Trump for that reminder.”

Talon urged West African leaders to move from talk to action.

“If we cannot create wealth and opportunity, all our other values—democracy, liberty—cannot be sustained. Integration must be real. Integration must be delivered,” he said.

Earlier, the Presidents of Sierra Leone and Benin delivered national statements at the summit, which preceded the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, scheduled for Sunday, June 22, 2025, at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

Representatives of other West African leaders delivered statements on regional integration and prosperity.

At the same time, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, sent recorded video statements.

Liberian President Joseph Boakai affirmed Liberia’s commitment to ECOWAS and regional blocs like the Mano River Union in reducing trade barriers, harmonising policies, and enhancing competitiveness.

He praised President Tinubu, Chair of the ECOWAS Authority, for convening what he called a “timely, strategic summit.”

“This summit offers a vital platform for reflection, coordination, and renewed commitment to the economic transformation of our subregion,” Boakai said, adding that while the challenges in the region are complex, “they are not insurmountable.”

President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone highlighted the need to unlock the region’s economic potential in the face of growing global pressures.

“This potential must be unlocked through strategic integration, particularly amid rising public debt, climate vulnerability, food insecurity, and geopolitical uncertainty.”

He urged West African leaders to accelerate regional integration.

“Trade integration must start with a strong political commitment. We must engage in key initiatives like the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the Common External Tariff to harmonise trade policies and reduce tariffs.”

On monetary policy, President Bio expressed his country’s support for a single regional currency.

“To deepen intra-regional competitiveness, we must accelerate progress toward monetary union. A single currency would reduce exchange rate costs, support price stability, and improve the business environment,” he said.

The post Nigeria, Benin sign integration agreement, call for regional reforms appeared first on Frontpageng.

Speaking when he received President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic at the State House in Abuja, on Wednesday, President Tinubu said Nigeria and Benin Republic shared a lot in common, describing both countries as conjoined twins held together at the hip.

“We are one. No other nation like ours should be worried. What is affecting us is a lack of synergy. We have not developed the necessary economic synergy that will develop our two nations. We must have common economic principles and priorities. The economic programme you are developing through inter-ministerial collaboration is welcomed by me.

“We will support all of our private sector interests to facilitate prosperity in both of our important countries. I appreciate the urgency of your approach, and we welcome this. Leadership is sometimes defined by urgent action. Thank you for your quality leadership. We are together. I am not a backward looking person. I look forward. This is how I avoid missing steps,” the president said.

President Talon, who was at the State House to seek the support of President Tinubu on improving trade relations, ahead of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Summit, described the relationship between his country and Nigeria as crucial.

He said Benin Republic was seeking stronger trade ties with Nigeria, emphasising the free movement of people and goods between both countries.

“Benin has started implementing a national development plan which includes enhanced integration between Nigeria and Benin Republic. Our development plan includes taking into account what investments are required in Benin to enhance our integration with Nigeria in trade terms. It is true that many agreements have been signed to push our integration forward, but they have not been implemented.

“At the level of ECOWAS, we embrace free movement and integration, and at the African level, AfCFTA envisages this; so we need to move urgently to make this a reality.

“Our investment programme must be revised to factor in all factors of the Nigerian economy. We seek to set up an inter-ministerial technical committee that will jointly prepare a draft document for our legislatures. I am ready to sign an executive order to appoint members of the council to advance mutually beneficial cooperation across sectors.

“There have been difficulties bilaterally on the issue of smuggling. We will work hard to coordinate and ensure that your interests are protected as we integrate our economies. I want us to make history together,” President Talon said.

The post Tinubu receives Talon, speaks on cooperation in W’Africa appeared first on Frontpageng.

Both leaders met on Wednesday in Abuja at the Presidential Villa, following what President Tinubu described as ‘military misbehaviour’ in the neighboring country.

Speaking to the press after the meeting, President Tinubu, in his capacity as the chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, reiterated his commitment to working with other ECOWAS leaders to promote stability and  peace in the West African region.

READ ALSO: Niger: Tinubu warns against uncertainty over democratic rule

He said President Talon would head to Niamey, capital of Niger, to address the situation.

Also speaking, President Talon told journalists that the situation in Niger was a cause for concern for ECOWAS and President Tinubu.

”Nigeria shares borders with Niger and Benin, and we are neighbours to Niger as well. We are taking this matter seriously and responding promptly. I am confident that all necessary measures will be employed to ensure a peaceful resolution in Niger.

”As the President of Nigeria stated, mediation efforts will be strengthened this very evening to bring about a peaceful resolution. Even when dealing with unacceptable actions, our priority is to address them through peaceful means. This remains our primary approach, and we are optimistic,’’ President Talon said.

The post Tinubu receives Patrice Talon, denounces situation in Niger appeared first on Frontpageng.

The president spoke at State House, Abuja, while playing host to President Patrice Talon of Republic of Benin, who was on an official visit.

“Good neighbourliness is very important in our lives. The survival of your neighbour is also your own, and we will continue to work with our neighbours in the light of this understanding,” President Buhari stated.

He recalled that on assumption of office for first term in 2015, one of the very first steps he took was to visit neighbouring countries – Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Benin – all towards forging a common understanding on crucial issues, including security, trade and development.

“And those are issues we must continue to engage on, for the good of our countries and the people. Whatever irritations that come up must be removed,” President Buhari said.

President Talon disclosed that he was in Nigeria to show gratitude to President Buhari for the robust leadership he had displayed in Nigeria and Africa.

Noting that the challenges of 2020 were huge, he stressed that the same challenges might remain in 2021, “and our relationship as neighbours must, therefore, remain cordial.”

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