Benin Republic’s Foreign Minister, Olushegun Bakari, has affirmed that Nigeria’s swift and timely intervention, along with support from other West African nations, played a critical role in averting a potential bloodbath during a recent coup attempt in his country.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday during the ECOWAS Council of Ministers summit, Bakari confirmed that while the Benin military repelled the initial attack, external support was essential to neutralise the threat with minimal civilian casualties.
The Minister explained that the insurgents had fortified themselves within a military barracks situated near a densely populated civilian neighbourhood.
He stressed that a full-scale assault by Beninese loyalist forces could have resulted in high civilian casualties.
Bakari stated that Benin requested intervention from Nigeria and other ECOWAS members not because its army was incapable, but for strategic and humanitarian reasons.
“Why did we ask for support, especially from Nigeria? It was mainly because the area where they had established themselves in a military barracks was surrounded by civilians. We didn’t want to risk significant casualties. If we had let our military enter there, the casualties would have been very high,” he explained.
He confirmed that assistance was requested under the ECOWAS protocol from Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Sierra Leone.
“Their support was crucial to ensure that we could neutralise the threat with minimal loss of life. We did not want to engage in an all-out assault that could have led to many civilian deaths,” he added.
Bakari noted that the coup attempt, which began around 3 a.m. on Sunday with an attack on the presidential residence, was quickly put down by Benin’s Republican Guard.
He confirmed that despite a brief attempt by the rebels to seize the national television station, the military quickly regained control.
“Our defence forces – the Republican Guard – blocked them. They fought back and then withdrew into a military camp. So, when we started discussions for the intervention of Nigeria and others under the ECOWAS protocol, our military had already pushed them back. The coup had already failed,” Bakari affirmed.
He specially thanked President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria and other regional leaders for stepping in to prevent further escalation and ensuring the rebels could not seize key installations like the airport.
The Foreign Minister underscored the importance of the ECOWAS response, calling it a defence of democratic values in the region.
“It is important for all of us within our community, and especially for the two leaders of Benin and Nigeria, to clearly show that the ECOWAS region is still an area where democracy prevails,” Bakari asserted. “We show that in our region and environment, we cannot accept those who attack democracy.”
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