Nigeria's Senate has unanimously approved the deployment of troops to the Republic of Benin. The move supports a regional mission to stabilize the country after a failed military coup . Senators voted on Tuesday to grant President Bola Tinubu's request for the deployment .
The approval provides formal parliamentary backing for a military intervention that began days earlier. President Tinubu had already ordered Nigerian forces into Benin at the government's request . The Senate acted under Section 5 of the Nigerian Constitution .
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the decision. He said unrest in a neighbor threatens the entire region. He used the phrase "an injury to one is an injury to all" . He also warned that a successful coup could have sent thousands of refugees into Nigeria .
The crisis began on Sunday, December 7. A group of soldiers tried to seize power in Benin . The mutineers called themselves the "Military Committee for Refoundation" . They attacked the president's residence and took over state television in Cotonou .
On television, the soldiers declared President Patrice Talon removed from office . They announced the suspension of the constitution and state institutions . The group's leader was Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri .
The Beninese government quickly asked Nigeria for help. Officials requested "exceptional and immediate air support" . President Tinubu responded by ordering Nigerian fighter jets into Benin .
The jets entered Benin airspace to dislodge the coup plotters. They targeted the national TV station and a military camp . Nigeria later sent ground troops to protect state institutions .
Benin's Interior Minister Alassane Seidou said loyalist forces stopped the coup . President Talon appeared on TV to confirm his government was back in control. He promised that "this treachery will not go unpunished" .
Authorities arrested at least 14 people linked to the attempt . Most were active-duty soldiers . The coup leader, Lt. Col. Tigri, was reported as a fugitive . One civilian was killed during the events .
The regional bloc ECOWAS also took action. It ordered its standby force to deploy to Benin immediately . The force includes troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, and Ghana . Its mission is to preserve Benin's constitutional order .
In his letter to the Senate, President Tinubu explained the decision. He said Benin faced an "attempted unconstitutional seizure of power" . He cited Nigeria's duty under ECOWAS security principles . He also mentioned the close ties between the two nations .
The Senate approved the request in a swift process. Lawmakers resolved into a "Committee of the Whole" to consider it . The approval did not take long, and the vote was unanimous . The formal consent letter will be sent to the president immediately .
This military intervention is Nigeria's first foreign deployment since 2017. That year, it was part of an ECOWAS mission to The Gambia . The action highlights Nigeria's role as a regional power in West Africa.
The coup attempt surprised many observers. Benin has been seen as a stable democracy in Africa . The country's last successful coup happened in 1972 . Benin was preparing for a presidential election in April 2026 .
President Talon was expected to leave office after that vote . The coup plotters gave several reasons for their actions. They cited Talon's management, military favoritism, and neglect of soldiers' families . They also mentioned security problems in northern Benin .
The region has faced several military takeovers in recent years. Neighbors Niger and Burkina Faso had coups in 2023 and 2022 . Mali and Guinea had coups in 2021. Guinea-Bissau saw an attempt just last month .
An analyst from the International Crisis Group commented on the situation. Ibrahim Yahaya Ibrahim said coup attempts are partly driven by governments rejecting democratic rules . He noted that Talon had agreed to step down, which is positive. But he also said the opposition candidate was barred from the election .
The failed coup and foreign troop deployment mark a critical moment. They test the strength of regional security agreements. They also show the pressure on democracies in West Africa. The ECOWAS standby force is now on the ground to prevent further instability.