Cotonou, Benin – Days after a failed bid to overthrow Benin’s government, Cotonou’s Dantokupa market is buzzing with activity again.
Pedestrians and pushcarts crowded the narrow streets, a sign that life is returning to normal after a brief but intense crisis.
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Amid the bustling crowd, small traders like Abel Ifonsu are back to selling their wares, eager for information about the attempted putsch and what it means for the country’s future.
“For now, everything is back to normal. This is very good for the country and we are happy,” said Ifeons, summing up the widespread sense of relief.
failed rebellion
The crisis began on Sunday morning when a group of soldiers occupied a state television station and announced President Patrice Tallon’s deposition.
However, the coup attempt was quickly defeated by forces loyal to the president, with strong support from the Nigerian Air Force.
Former colonial power France and regional state Ivory Coast offered aid to Benin, while the Nigerian military helped put down the rebellion alongside loyalist forces.
Nigeria sent military aircraft to target the rebels as troops loyal to Benin’s president surrounded the base where the conspirators had holed up. This coordinated action resulted in the coup leaders retreating from both the state television station they had captured and the presidential palace they had attempted to take over by force.
By Sunday afternoon, the interior minister issued a statement saying Benin’s military leadership had “thwarted the attempt.” And that night, Tallon appeared on national television and promised to punish those responsible.
“I want to assure you that the situation is completely under control, so I urge everyone to remain calm and operate from this evening,” the president said.
Benin journalist Moise Dusmou emphasized the strategic nature of the intervention, suggesting that although Benin requested assistance, Nigeria’s swift response as a regional power was key.
“The immediate threat of instability will inevitably spill over into both Nigeria and ECOWAS,” Dosmou said.
Nigeria’s role in Benin, although praised by the African Union, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other international organizations, drew criticism at home.
Some Nigerians have wondered how Nigeria’s warplanes have thwarted coups abroad, but they seem unable to do the same against bandits and armed groups terrorizing villagers at home.
fluid region
The coup attempt came at a volatile time for the region.
Coups have occurred in several West African countries in recent years, including Benin’s northern neighbors Niger and Burkina Faso, as well as Mali, Chad, Guinea and, most recently, Guinea-Bissau, where military personnel seized power last month.
A successful takeover in Benin would further weaken ECOWAS. ECOWAS suspended Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger following successful military takeovers there. These three countries then formed their own federated alliance known as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Many in AES states welcomed the first announcement by Benin’s coup leaders on Sunday.
Analysts believe a successful coup in Benin, which is also fighting armed groups, could join the AES and further isolate ECOWAS.
The government maintains the coup was domestic, but has indicated the scope of its investigation is wide.
“However, if the investigation traces the incident back to foreign countries or foreign forces involved, we will express our disapproval and condemnation of those perpetrators within the framework of international cooperation,” Benin government spokesperson Wilfried Leandre Fumbesi said.
The impact of the coup is not limited to Benin’s politics. This small West African country is an important maritime hub. Many countries in the region, especially the landlocked Niger, relied heavily on the port of Cotonou for imports and exports.
This relationship took a hit after the military occupation of Niamey in 2023. Relations between the two neighbors soured after Benin imposed ECOWAS sanctions in the aftermath of the coup. Niger currently relies on supplies from Togo’s ports via Mali and Burkina Faso, with the additional logistics raising the cost of goods.
This instability is not limited to Benin. ECOWAS also recently suspended its operations in Guinea-Bissau after the military seized power there following a chaotic presidential election.
Across the region, many people are dissatisfied with the behavior of politicians. It is not all that surprising that coups in the region, both failed and successful, have at least some support from those who see politicians as nothing more than an elite group primarily concerned with their own interests.
However, Benin officials said that although the country was not as it should have been, significant progress had been made in various areas such as infrastructure development and investment, in an apparent response to a series of accusations against the president and his government.
The future of democracy in Benin
President Tallon, who survived the attempt, will serve out his second term with the support of ECOWAS, which has deployed troops to protect the country’s 34-year-old democracy.
However, the coup attempt fundamentally shook the public’s confidence in the lasting stability of democracy.
The presidential election is scheduled for April next year. Tallon is not running, but some critics believe his influence could help weaken the opposition and smooth the path for a ruling party candidate.
It remains unclear how long Nigerian warplanes and ECOWAS forces will be deployed to thwart any further attempts by the disgruntled soldiers.
For people in the region, however, the coup attempt is a stark reminder that stability is fragile. And many fear that the recent surge in successful and failed coups across the continent means West Africa is at risk of regaining its notoriety as a region prone to military takeovers.
