The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has framed the 7 December attempted coup in Benin not as an isolated incident, but as a symptom of broader institutional weaknesses across West Africa that undermine democratic governance and stability. This assessment came during a UNSC briefing where senior UN officials highlighted structural issues that can fuel political instability in the region.
According to the UN Deputy Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, the coup attempt — which was swiftly foiled by loyalist forces supported by regional allies underscores the need for inclusive governance reforms, transparent constitutional processes, and strengthened political institutions to prevent similar disruptions. The UNSC noted that events in Benin must be understood against a backdrop of recurring coups and political crises in several neighbouring countries, reflecting persistent governance challenges and dissatisfaction among parts of the military and civilian population.
Benin’s ambassador to the UN described how the factors behind the attempted overthrow mirror vulnerabilities found across the region including fragile democratic frameworks and weakened preventative mechanisms and stressed the importance of collective efforts to protect constitutional order. He emphasised that international and regional cooperation remains central to addressing these systemic fragilities.
President Patrice Talon’s government, while rejecting the characterization of the blast as a full-blown coup, acknowledged that the incident was a serious security breach. Talon’s forces, reinforced by support from ECOWAS allies like Nigeria, regained control quickly after plotters briefly seized key state installations before fleeing or being detained. About 30 suspects have since been jailed pending trial in connection with the episode.
The UNSC’s analysis points to a critical regional moment: even relatively stable democracies like Benin are not immune to the spill-over effects of weakened institutions and political polarization. It underlines that building resilient democratic systems with broad public consultation and robust checks and balances is essential to deter further challenges to constitutional rule across West Africa.
