France Aided Benin in Foiling Weekend Coup Attempt, Macron Aide Reveals
PARIS – France provided surveillance and logistical support to Benin’s military to help thwart a coup attempt over the weekend, a senior aide to President Emmanuel Macron confirmed on Tuesday, disclosing Paris’ discreet involvement in the swift regional response.
The coup attempt began on Sunday when a group of soldiers seized the national television station and announced the removal of Benin’s President Patrice Talon. The attempt was quickly suppressed by loyalist forces, who were backed by Nigerian airstrikes and troops.
According to the Élysée Palace, Macron coordinated closely with West African leaders following the outbreak of the crisis. At the formal request of the Beninese government, France then offered intelligence and logistical assistance to support the national military.
“France responded favorably to Benin’s request for support,” the presidential aide stated, emphasizing the operation was conducted in a framework of partnership and at the behest of a sovereign government.
The incident underscores the fragile security climate in West Africa, where a wave of military takeovers has eroded French influence in recent years. Successful coups in former French colonies Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have reshaped regional alliances and prompted the withdrawal of French troops from those nations.
A successful overthrow in Benin—a stable democracy and key partner for Paris in the Gulf of Guinea—would have marked another significant setback for France’s strategic position in the region.
The attempted coup also follows recent instability elsewhere in West Africa, including a coup in Guinea-Bissau last November following disputed elections.
Beninese authorities have since restored order, and President Talon remains in power. Investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend the perpetrators behind Sunday’s brief insurrection.
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