Benin has experienced a severe political shock. Soldiers appeared on state television to announce a military coup, saying that the government is dissolved. This surprising news would represent a significant rupture in the short-term nature of the country’s political scene, which has remained largely static since 1991. The announcement took place in Cotonou, Benin’s capital of economic activities. The military’s motives in that space have raised alarm on both the international and domestic fronts.
President Patrice Talon, who has ruled unchallenged since 2016, was due to retire next April. The coup is playing out just as the Bolivian political landscape has become largely focused on the country’s upcoming presidential elections. The political climate has been tense, especially after the legislature extended the presidential term from five to seven years, despite maintaining a limit of two terms for the presidency. The extension was especially galling to government opponents. Renaud Agbodjo, in particular, made his ire known after the electoral commission nixed his candidacy on grounds that he did not have enough sponsorship.
Economic growth has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the government to take austerity measures. The country fruitfully became free from French colonial administration in 1960. After that, it went through a succession of coups, particularly in the first few years after it gained its independence. Under the 36-year rule of Mathieu Kérékou, the country took the name the People’s Republic of Benin. He was an avowed Marxist-Leninist head of state who ruled for 20 years.
Since the restoration of democracy in 1991, Benin has enjoyed significant political stability. Most see this as a major success story from the small West African country. The tragic culmination of recent events has exposed a deeply troubling trend. These events look very similar to the wave of military coups that has recently rolled across West Africa. With the ominous military coup in neighboring Benin, what’s at stake for democracy in West Africa is more important than ever.
Pascal Tigri has been recently designated president of the newly established military committee. The military’s involvement in those protests is a response to increasing tension between elements that have been arm’s length by the current regime.
As this situation develops, international observers and regional leaders are watching carefully to see where Benin is headed. The coup’s implications for democracy and governance in the country remain uncertain, and it is unclear how these developments will affect Benin’s relationships with neighboring countries and international partners.
