In Abuja, the regional West African bloc ECOWAS strongly condemned the attempted coup in Benin and pledged support for restoring constitutional order.
Early on Sunday, a group of soldiers briefly declared on state television that they had removed the government and suspended the constitution — but later the coup was foiled and loyal forces regained control.
In its statement, ECOWAS called the mutiny “an unconstitutional move” and warned that those behind it would be held “individually and collectively responsible for any loss to life or property.”
The bloc offered “all necessary support,” including the possible deployment of its standby force, to help defend Benin’s constitutional government and territorial integrity.
Regional and international observers say ECOWAS’s swift condemnation sends a strong message: democratic rule in West Africa remains a shared priority, even as the region faces rising instability.
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