Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned Sunday’s attempted coup in the Benin Republic.
He warned that the growing wave of military interventions across West Africa poses a serious danger to democracy in the sub-region.
The attempted takeover was broadcast on Benin’s national television by a group calling itself the Military Committee for Refoundation, which claimed to have ousted President Patrice Talon and dissolved state institutions.
The move comes less than two years before Benin’s presidential election scheduled for April 2026.
Reacting in a statement on his X account, Atiku described the development as “utterly unacceptable,” stressing that military rule in Africa belongs to the past. “I condemn, without reservation and in the strongest possible terms, the coup d’état in the Benin Republic. This reckless assault on constitutional order is unacceptable, not only because of its proximity, but because the era of military interference in governance is long over in Africa and our sub-region,” he said.
Atiku expressed concern over what appears to be a recurring pattern of coups around election periods, citing Guinea-Bissau’s attempted military takeover on the eve of election results as an example. He warned that some political actors may be exploiting the military to derail democratic processes. “This trend is dangerous for the health of democracy in West Africa and must be stopped before it becomes the rule rather than the exception,” he added.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu commended Nigerian Armed Forces for their role in safeguarding democracy in Benin. He insisted that the military has no place in politics, declaring: “Soldiers have no business outside their barracks, and every decisive measure must be taken to crush any appetite for subverting democracy.”
Authorities in Benin confirmed that the coup attempt was foiled. Thirteen suspects, all serving military personnel except one retired soldier, have been arrested. The presidency also assured that President Talon remains safe and that loyalist forces have restored control.
