By Josephine Sesay

ECOWAS has approved the deployment of a regional standby force to the Republic of Benin after an attempted coup threatened to destabilize the country, with Sierra Leone among the nations committing troops to the operation.

The decision followed a high-level consultation of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council on Sunday, where regional leaders reviewed security updates from Cotonou. The attempted coup, condemned by ECOWAS as an unconstitutional move, prompted swift action aimed at preventing further unrest and safeguarding Benin’s democratic order.

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, who currently chairs ECOWAS, authorized the country’s participation in the mission under Article 25(e) of the 1999 ECOWAS Protocol. The provision empowers the regional body to intervene in member states during crises that threaten peace, territorial integrity, or constitutional governance.

The multinational force will comprise military personnel from Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana. Its mandate includes supporting Benin’s Republican Army, protecting key state institutions, and ensuring stability while authorities pursue those involved in the failed putsch.

ECOWAS emphasized that individuals behind the coup attempt would be held fully accountable for any violence or damage caused. The African Union echoed the regional bloc’s stance, calling for unwavering respect for democratic norms across Africa.

The events in Benin add to a growing list of political upheavals within West Africa, where recent coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have raised alarms about rising military interventions in politics. ECOWAS reaffirmed its readiness to defend democratic governance and said it would continue monitoring the situation closely as the standby force begins preparations for deployment.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 10th December 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)