Nigeria has condemned Sunday’s attempted coup in the Republic of Benin, describing it as a direct attack on democracy and a move capable of destabilising the region.
The reaction came through a statement issued by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, who said Nigeria stands firmly with the government and people of Benin in the face of the unrest.
“Nigeria stands in firm solidarity with the Government and people of the Republic of Benin, and applauds the swift action taken by Beninese authorities to protect its legitimate institutions and preserve the peace,” the statement noted.
Ebienfa said the Beninese security forces acted with courage and professionalism while pushing back the attempt to remove President Patrice Talon from office.
“We commend the courage and professionalism of the Beninese security forces in defending the constitutional order and guaranteeing the safety of the President,” he said.
Nigeria expressed concern that any unlawful change of government threatens the wider region and undermines democratic progress. It urged ECOWAS member states and the international community to take a unified position.
“We call on all member states and the international community to unite in condemning this act and reaffirming our shared commitment to the AU Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, and the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance,” the ministry added.
The government also appealed for calm across Benin and advised all political actors to allow constitutional processes to guide their actions.
“We urge all parties in the Republic of Benin to remain calm, uphold the rule of law, and continue to channel any political discourse through peaceful, constitutional and democratic means,” the statement said.
The attempted takeover was announced earlier on state television by a group calling itself the Military Committee for Refoundation, which claimed to have removed Talon from office. However, Talon’s office insisted he was safe while loyal forces worked to restore order.
The French embassy in Cotonou reported gunfire near Camp Guezo, close to the president’s residence, advising its citizens to stay indoors.
The incident adds to a string of coups or attempted coups in West Africa in recent years, including Niger, Burkina Faso, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
Talon, 67, has been in power since 2016 and is expected to leave office in April when his second and final term ends.
