France has confirmed that it provided surveillance and logistical support to help the government of Benin foil a coup attempt over the weekend, an aide to President Emmanuel Macron disclosed on Tuesday.

The aide, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, said the assistance followed a direct request from the Beninese authorities.

The support was part of a broader regional coordination effort led by President Macron, who also held discussions with key West African leaders, including President Patrice Talon of Benin.

“France, at the request of the Beninese authorities, provided assistance in terms of surveillance, observation and logistical support to the Benin armed forces,” the aide said.

While specific details of the French intervention remain undisclosed, the source added that Macron “unequivocally condemned” the attempted coup and reaffirmed support for constitutional order in Benin.

The aide revealed that Macron spoke with Talon on Sunday, along with the leaders of Nigeria and Sierra Leone, which currently chairs the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

“The situation in Benin caused serious concern for the president, who unequivocally condemned this attempt at destabilisation, which fortunately failed,” the aide said.

ECOWAS has since confirmed that troops from Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Sierra Leone were being deployed to Benin to help restore stability and prevent any recurrence of the coup threat.

Loyalist troops in Benin, with critical support from Nigeria’s military, successfully quelled the coup after a group of soldiers seized the national television station and announced the ouster of President Talon.

The Nigerian military reportedly carried out precision strikes on Cotonou and deployed troops under the ECOWAS framework, following an official request from the Beninese government.e

The failed coup in Benin comes amid rising instability across former French colonies in West Africa. Paris has suffered significant diplomatic and military setbacks in the region after a series of successful coups in Mali (2020, 2021), Burkina Faso (2022), and Niger (2023), all of which led to the expulsion of French troops and suspension of bilateral security agreements.

A successful putsch in Benin would have dealt a fresh blow to France’s standing in the region.

“France has offered its full political support to ECOWAS, which made a very significant effort this weekend,” the Macron aide added.

France notably refrained from intervening during the 2023 coup in Niger, despite the overthrow of Mohamed Bazoum, a key ally of Macron.