Military rulers across West Africa’s Sahel may have quietly welcomed a failed coup attempt in coastal Benin, analysts say. Benin’s strategic coastline offers vital port access for landlocked Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, united under the Alliance of Sahel States.
Observers stress there is no concrete evidence linking Sahelian juntas directly to the December 7 plot in Cotonou. Yet the rapid spread of supportive misinformation raised questions about coordination and ideological sympathy across neighbouring military regimes.
As rebel soldiers appeared briefly on television, pro-junta social media accounts celebrated what they called Benin’s “liberation day”. Prominent among them was Beninese activist Kemi Seba, a vocal critic of President Patrice Talon and France’s regional influence.
Seba, now an adviser to Niger’s military leader, faces an international arrest warrant from Benin over alleged incitement to rebellion. Analysts say the speed of his reaction suggests foreknowledge or deliberate amplification rather than spontaneous political enthusiasm.
Alleged coup leader Lieutenant-Colonel Pascal Tigri remains at large, rumoured to be sheltering in a Sahelian capital. Experts argue that if he is inside an AES country, extradition to Benin is highly unlikely.
The coup collapsed quickly as Benin’s Republican Guard stayed loyal, repelled attackers, and restored order around the presidency. Regional intervention followed, with Nigerian forces acting under ECOWAS and French special forces providing additional support.
Unlike recent Sahel coups, Benin saw no mass public backing, signalling limited appetite for military rule. For the Sahel alliance, analysts conclude, the failed coup carried little risk and revealed regional fault lines without leaving fingerprints.