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officials have said how many foreign soldiers were deployed to the country, although it is not clear if some have been withdrawn since Sunday.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 that 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 underway, with the leader of the failed coup said to be taking refuge in neighboring Togo.
The rebel soldiers justified their actions by criticizing President Patrice Talon’s management of the country, particularly about the “continuing deterioration of the security situation” in northern Benin.
The West African regional bloc, Ecowas, deployed troops from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast to secure key installations and prevent any resurgence of violence.
Nigeria, Benin’s large neighbor to the east, said its soldiers had reached there on Sunday, describing the coup attempt as a direct assault on democracy.
An Ivory Coast security source told AFP news agency that 50 soldiers from the country had been sent as part of the regional deployment.
Bakari confirmed that there are currently around 200 soldiers present, assisting the Beninese defense and security forces during the clean-up operation.
The coup was already a failure when we began discussions for the intervention of Nigeria and others under Ecowas protocol, Bakari noted.
Following discussions, it was agreed that more aerial support was necessary for targeted operations against insurgent positions without risking civilian lives.
Bakari praised the swift diplomatic and military actions taken by Nigeria and other regional partners in thwarting the coup.
The extent of the French special forces’ continued involvement remains unclear.
Under growing pressure from recent coup actions across the region, Ecowas is signaling its commitment to defend democracy against military takeovers.
As President Talon is set to step down next year after his second term, Benin's army has faced challenges from militants in border areas with Niger and Burkina Faso.
