France confirms providing intelligence for Benin, Nigeria to stop coup
France has confirmed that it gave Benin important intelligence and logistical support to help stop Sunday’s attempted coup, according to officials from the French presidency.
Benin’s President Patrice Talon announced on Sunday that his government and the military had blocked a group of soldiers who tried to remove him from power, and he promised that those involved would be punished.
French officials said they also shared intelligence with Nigeria. Nigeria responded by sending fighter jets and ground troops to support Benin after the request came in from Cotonou.
A French presidential adviser told reporters that “France provided support in terms of surveillance, observation, and logistics to Benin forces.”
The adviser added that the help was part of broader ECOWAS regional efforts.
They declined to give further details, but the French presidency said President Emmanuel Macron spoke with both the Nigerian and Beninese presidents over the weekend.
The failed coup adds to growing fears about democratic stability in West Africa, where soldiers have taken over in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea and, just last month, Guinea-Bissau.
France has kept a lower profile in recent years after military takeovers pushed it out of several former West African partners.
