Abuja, Nigeria — The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has ordered the immediate deployment of its standby force to the Republic of Benin following an attempted military coup aimed at ousting President Patrice Talon on Sunday, December 7, 2025.
In a statement released by the ECOWAS Commission late Sunday, the regional bloc warned that it would take “all necessary measures” to prevent a collapse of law and order and safeguard democratic governance in Benin.
Benin becomes the latest West African nation to face an attempted power grab amid a resurgence of coups that have destabilised several countries in the region in recent years.
ECOWAS Condemns ‘Unconstitutional Move’
Earlier on Sunday, ECOWAS condemned what it called an “unconstitutional move that represents a subversion of the will of the people of Benin.” The organisation reaffirmed its full support for President Talon’s government and pledged military assistance if required.
“ECOWAS will stand by the people of Benin to defend the Constitution and the territorial integrity of their nation,” the statement added.
Standby Force Deployment Formalised
Following emergency consultations, the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council—comprising Heads of State and Government—authorised the deployment of a regional standby force under Article 25(e) of the 1999 ECOWAS Protocol on Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security.
“The Chair of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government has ordered the deployment of elements of the ECOWAS Standby Force to the Republic of Benin with immediate effect,” the Commission said.
The force will draw troops from Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Sierra Leone, with a mandate to support Benin’s government and armed forces in preserving constitutional order and national stability.
How the Coup Attempt Unfolded
The crisis began early Sunday when a group of soldiers appeared on state television announcing that they had overthrown President Patrice Talon and dissolved key state institutions.
Reports indicate that the attempted coup started with an assault on the president’s official residence in Porto-Novo during the early hours of the morning. The mutineers, allegedly led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, claimed Talon had been “removed from power.”
However, loyalist forces swiftly countered the insurrection, regaining control of critical facilities and restoring constitutional order by midday. The government has since confirmed that the coup attempt was “effectively neutralised.”
The attempted takeover underscores ongoing instability in parts of West Africa, where military uprisings in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have drawn widespread international condemnation and renewed ECOWAS efforts to reinforce democratic governance across the region.
