According to the directive, the regional force will draw troops from four member countries: Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d'Ivoire, and Ghana.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has ordered the immediate deployment of elements of its Standby Force to the Republic of Benin following the attempted coup on Sunday.
In an urgent statement issued on Sunday and titled “ECOWAS Statement N°2 on Bénin”, the regional bloc said the decision was taken in line with its conflict-management protocols and after consultations among leaders of member states.
The statement read, “The Chair of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of state and Government has ordered the deployment of elements of the ECOWAS Standby Force to the Republic of Benin with immediate effect.”
Providing further details, the Commission added, “Pursuant to the provisions of relevant ECOWAS instruments, in particular Article 25(e) of the 1999 Protocol Relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security, and after consultation among members of the Mediation and Security Council at the level of Heads of State and Government, the Chair of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of state and Government has ordered the deployment of elements of the ECOWAS Standby Force to the Republic of Benin with immediate effect.”
According to the directive, the regional force will draw troops from four member countries: Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d'Ivoire, and Ghana.
“The Regional Force shall be made up of troops from the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Republic of Sierra Leone, the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, and the Republic of Ghana,” ECOWAS stated.
It added that the deployment is aimed at bolstering Benin’s national institutions and preventing any further threat to its stability.
“The Force shall support the Government and the Republican Army of Benin to preserve constitutional order and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Benin,” the statement noted.
The announcement, issued from Abuja on December 7, 2025, marks the second formal ECOWAS communication since the crisis began and underscores the bloc’s increasingly assertive stance against unconstitutional changes of government in West Africa.
ECOWAS had earlier condemned the attempted coup as “an unconstitutional move that represents a subversion of the will of the people of Benin.”
The West African bloc called for full adherence to Benin’s constitutional order and commended government forces for swiftly controlling the situation.
It warned that the masterminds would be held accountable for any harm caused, stating, “ECOWAS holds the leaders of the plot both individually and collectively responsible for any loss to life and property occasioned by their action.”
It pledged to support Benin in all necessary ways, including the deployment of its Standby Force.
It declared, “ECOWAS will support the Government and the people in all forms necessary, including the deployment of the regional standby force, to defend the Constitution and the territorial integrity of Benin.”