A senior government official in Benin has told the BBC that the leader of Sunday's failed coup is taking refuge in neighbouring Togo. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official stated that the government intends to request the extradition of Lt Col Pascal Tigri, although Togo's government has yet to comment on the matter. The failed coup marked a rising concern over democracy in West Africa, where a series of military takeovers have raised alarms. The coup was thwarted after regional power Nigeria deployed fighter jets to help dislodge the mutineers from a military base and state TV offices, following a request from President Patrice Talon's administration.
On Sunday morning, a group of soldiers announced on state TV that they had seized power, accompanied by gunfire near the presidential residence. The head of Benin's republican guard confirmed to AFP that French special forces aided loyalist troops in quelling the coup attempt. However, the Benin government's spokesman did not confirm the extent of French military involvement, stating France mainly provided intelligence support.
The official indicated that Tigri was in Togo's capital, Lomé, geographically close to where President Faure Gnassingbé resides. An official extradition request will be made to Togo, though the official expressed uncertainty about the outcome.
Ecowas, the regional bloc to which Togo belongs, condemned the coup attempt and has sent troops from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast to safeguard key areas in Benin, signaling a shift towards greater military intervention in support of civilian governments.
Benin, previously regarded as a stable democracy in Africa, is facing unprecedented challenges as it grapples with instability and military dissent. The attempt to seize power also reflects growing frustration among some military factions regarding governance and the handling of ongoing security threats from insurgents near its northern borders with Niger and Burkina Faso.
Talon, who has endorsed Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni as his successor and plans to step down next year, has faced criticism for suppressing dissent, especially following the barring of the main opposition candidate from competing in upcoming elections. This coup attempt follows a similar series of actions in West Africa, raising fears of a destabilizing trend in the region.
On Sunday morning, a group of soldiers announced on state TV that they had seized power, accompanied by gunfire near the presidential residence. The head of Benin's republican guard confirmed to AFP that French special forces aided loyalist troops in quelling the coup attempt. However, the Benin government's spokesman did not confirm the extent of French military involvement, stating France mainly provided intelligence support.
The official indicated that Tigri was in Togo's capital, Lomé, geographically close to where President Faure Gnassingbé resides. An official extradition request will be made to Togo, though the official expressed uncertainty about the outcome.
Ecowas, the regional bloc to which Togo belongs, condemned the coup attempt and has sent troops from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast to safeguard key areas in Benin, signaling a shift towards greater military intervention in support of civilian governments.
Benin, previously regarded as a stable democracy in Africa, is facing unprecedented challenges as it grapples with instability and military dissent. The attempt to seize power also reflects growing frustration among some military factions regarding governance and the handling of ongoing security threats from insurgents near its northern borders with Niger and Burkina Faso.
Talon, who has endorsed Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni as his successor and plans to step down next year, has faced criticism for suppressing dissent, especially following the barring of the main opposition candidate from competing in upcoming elections. This coup attempt follows a similar series of actions in West Africa, raising fears of a destabilizing trend in the region.
