Dare Babalola
The Chief of Army Staff and the Chief of the National Guard of Benin Republic have been freed after being held captive during Sunday’s unsuccessful coup attempt.
Security analyst Brant Grant confirmed their release in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday.
“The Beninese Chief of Army Staff and the Chief of Staff of the National Guard have been freed after they were taken hostage by the mutineers during the coup yesterday,” he wrote.
Their release follows an announcement by President Patrice Talon, who stated in a national broadcast that his government has regained full control after the unrest.
Talon and several senior military officials were earlier seized in Cotonou by mutinous soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri.
The incident adds to a series of recent coups and attempted takeovers recorded in West Africa, including in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Guinea-Bissau.
Meanwhile, the ECOWAS Commission has ordered the deployment of elements of the ECOWAS standby force to the Republic of Benin following consultations at the level of heads of state and government.
The commission said the decision was taken in line with relevant ECOWAS instruments, particularly Article 25(e) of the 1999 protocol on conflict prevention, management, resolution, peacekeeping and security.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the commission said the decision followed consultations of the mediation and security council.
“The chair of ECOWAS authority of heads of state and government has ordered the deployment of elements of the ECOWAS standby force to the Republic of Benin with immediate effect,” the statement reads.
