The Federal Government of Nigeria has condemned the attempted coup in the Benin Republic, describing it as a direct assault on democracy and constitutional order.
Gunshots were reported near President Patrice Talon’s residence on Sunday as armoured vehicles patrolled the presidential palace. The group behind the attempt, calling itself the Military Committee for Refoundation, claimed that the president and all political officeholders had been removed and that all state institutions dissolved.
The Beninese presidency later confirmed that Talon was safe and that the regular army had regained control.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the federal government received reports of the incident with “grave concern” and praised Beninese authorities for acting swiftly to safeguard democratic institutions.
The statement described the coup attempt as “a direct assault on democracy, constitutional order, and the collective will of the Beninese people, who have consistently demonstrated their commitment to peaceful political transitions.” Nigeria also commended the professionalism of the Beninese security forces, noting that their prompt actions were crucial in protecting the president and defending the constitutional order.
The ministry emphasized that the failed attempt to subvert democracy was “decisively repelled” and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to democracy, good governance, and the rule of law as pillars of peace, development, and regional stability.
“Unconstitutional changes of government are an unacceptable and retrogressive step that threatens the hard-earned democratic gains and socio-economic progress of our sub-region,” the statement said.
As a member of ECOWAS and the African Union, Nigeria called on all member states and the international community to unite in condemning the coup attempt and reaffirm their commitment to the African Union’s Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
The federal government assured Benin of its “full support and continued cooperation” in strengthening democracy and promoting peace and prosperity across West Africa.