Following Sunday’s foiled coup attempt in the Republic of Benin, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is currently backing military operations in the West African nation as part of an ECOWAS Standby Force deployment.
According to confirmed reports, the intervention underscores Nigeria’s commitment to regional security and stability, even as the operations are being conducted in strict accordance with ECOWAS protocols and in coordination with host-nation authorities.
This is the government of Benin announced that it had successfully thwarted an attempted coup by a group of military personnel who briefly seized control of national television on Sunday morning.
In a televised address, hours after the soldiers broadcast their purported seizure of power, Interior Minister Alassane Seidou said: “The Beninese armed forces and their leadership, true to their oath, remained committed to the republic.”
Identifying themselves as the Military Committee for Refoundation, the coupists
had announced the removal of President Patrice Talon and the dissolution of all state institutions.
However, security forces quickly regained control, and scores of suspects, including the alleged ringleaders, have been rounded-up and are currently in custody.
Offering insights on latest developments in Benin Republic, the ECOWAS Commission, in its second official statement, announced that following consultations among members of the Mediation and Security Council at the level of Heads of State and Government, the Chair of ECOWAS Authority ordered the immediate deployment of elements of the ECOWAS Standby Force to Benin.
The statement said the deployment was authorized pursuant to Article 25(e) of the 1999 Protocol Relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security.
The Regional Force comprises troops from four West African nations: the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, and Republic of Ghana.
Going by the ECOWAS Commission statement issued from Abuja on December 7, 2025, the force has been mandated to support the Government and Republican Army of Benin in preserving constitutional order and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Benin.
Official sources said the Nigerian Air Force’s participation in this ECOWAS-sanctioned operation demonstrates Nigeria’s leadership role in maintaining peace and security across the West African sub-region.
It was further learnt that the deployment aligns with Nigeria’s longstanding commitment to collective security arrangements under the ECOWAS framework.
Designed to respond rapidly to conflict situations and support member states in maintaining regional peace and security, the ECOWAS Standby Force is a key component of the African Standby Force Initiative (ASFI)
ECOWAS Commission is the executive arm of ECOWAS, responsible for implementing community policies and programs across 15 West African member states. It is charged with the responsibility of coordinating economic integration, security and peacekeeping efforts within the sub-region.
