The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Benin, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, has commended Nigeria and other ECOWAS member states for their swift support in helping his country thwart a recent attempt to undermine democratic governance.
Bakari spoke during a ministerial press briefing with his Nigerian counterpart, where he underscored the importance of regional solidarity in defending democracy across West Africa.
He said Benin requested support from Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Ghana under ECOWAS protocols, not because its own forces were incapable, but to reinforce a united regional front against unconstitutional change of government.
According to him, loyalist forces in Benin successfully halted the attempt, but the rapid diplomatic and military coordination with neighbouring countries was crucial.
Switching briefly to French to stress the gravity of the message, Bakari described the intervention as “a demonstration of strong partnership” rooted in shared democratic values championed by President Patrice Talon of Benin and Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who also chairs ECOWAS.
“In my view, the success is the result of a very strong relationship between President Talon and President Tinubu, who are strong defenders of democracy in our sub-region,” he said. “When you share the same values, it is easier to take decisions quickly.”
Bakari added that the close cooperation between both countries—military, diplomatic, and ministerial—helped fast-track the response.
He noted that the timing of the ECOWAS Ministerial Meeting, coming just days after the incident in Benin, demonstrated the relevance of the regional bloc and the brotherhood among its member states.
“On behalf of the government and people of Benin, I thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the people of Nigeria, and the entire ECOWAS community for the support given to my country. Together, we decided to stop the spread of coups in our sub-region,” he said.
Bakari also reassured Nigerian investors and businesspeople operating in Benin of continued stability, saying the government remains firmly committed to safeguarding democracy and ensuring a secure environment for investment.
Speaking earlier, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, described the joint response as a model for the continent.
“We are all aware of what transpired in the Republic of Benin and the fast reaction that followed,” he said. “It is an exemplar of what should obtain whenever democracy is under threat in our region and indeed on the African continent.”
Tuggar noted that the rapid communication between him and Minister Bakari, as well as collaboration with other regional counterparts, was central to thwarting the attempt.
“It’s the individual agency, the understanding, and the long relationship between the two countries,” he said. “From the very beginning, my brother and I were communicating. That fast reaction is what led to stopping this unconstitutional attempt.”
He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to President Tinubu’s foreign policy doctrine— the “four Ds”: democracy, demography, development, and diaspora — with democracy remaining the foremost priority.
The briefing concluded with both nations reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, protecting democratic institutions, and reinforcing ECOWAS’ collective security architecture.