SMG added that the regional body’s response appears inconsistent with its stated commitment to defending constitutional governance.
The Socialist Movement of Ghana (SMG) has warned that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) risks reinforcing President Patrice Talon’s authority as political tensions escalate in Benin.
In its statement on Tuesday, the group said the situation in Benin has become a significant concern for the region, noting that civil society organisations, journalists and international observers have documented a decline in democratic standards.
SMG added that the regional body’s response appears inconsistent with its stated commitment to defending constitutional governance.
The movement began outlining its strongest concerns from the fourth paragraph, highlighting what it described as a clear pattern of democratic erosion.
Before quoting, it explained that these observations are drawn from years of reports on political repression, judicial interventions, and shrinking civic space.
“These are not isolated incidents, they form a clear pattern. Under Patrice Talon, Benin has experienced some of the most rapid democratic backsliding in West Africa. Opposition figures such as Sébastien Ajavon and Reckya Madougou were forced into exile or imprisonment under widely criticised judicial procedures,” SMG said.
SMG said the bloc risks sending the wrong message if its actions appear to strengthen Talon rather than address democratic violations. It noted that ECOWAS’ muted responses to similar situations elsewhere have already raised questions about its neutrality.
SMG said, “Given this record, we find it deeply troubling that ECOWAS would take a stance that appears to reinforce Talon's authority rather than challenge his violations of democratic norms.
“West Africans have not forgotten how ECOWAS often behaves when presidents manipulate constitutions, crush dissent, and centralise power the bloc is silent.
“But when citizens rise up or express dissatisfaction, ECOWAS suddenly finds the energy to intervene almost always in ways that protect sitting governments rather than defend democratic rights.”
The group added that such inconsistencies create perceptions that ECOWAS prioritises incumbent governments over democratic principles.
“This double standard is dangerous. It creates the perception that ECOWAS is not a community of nations rooted in the will of the people, but a club of presidents who protect one another regardless of their abuses,” it said.
“If ECOWAS chooses to intervene in Benin now in a way that strengthens Talon's hand, then it is choosing to side with authoritarianism over democracy, with elite interests over the rights of ordinary Beninese.”
SMG emphasised that Beninese citizens have made clear, consistent demands for political reforms, adding that these requests relate to core democratic freedoms rather than radical political changes.
The SMG said it “believes firmly that intervention whether political, economic, or military must never be used to shield anti-democratic leaders”.
“It must reflect the needs and demands of the people not the convenience of those in power and the people of Benin have been very clear in their demands. They want the reopening of political space. They want an end to the exclusion of opposition parties,” it said.
“They want the release of political prisoners. They want truly competitive elections. They want the restoration of independent institutions. They want justice for the victims of state violence. As Banouto Media reported, families of those killed during election related protests still await accountability and national healing. These demands are not radical. They are basic requirements for any society that calls itself democratic.”
The group warned that ECOWAS risks worsening its legitimacy if it appears to validate repeated actions that undermine democracy.
SMG also framed the Benin crisis in the context of broader continental governance trends. It said African nations face competing visions of leadership, one elite-driven and one popular, and that Talon represents the former.
“What is happening in Benin is not just a national issue. It is a regional warning sign. Across the continent, we see two competing visions of Africa. One vision belongs to the elites, leaders who privatise state resources, suppress opposition, sell national assets to foreign interests, and centralise political power,” it said.
“This is the world in which Patrice Talon has comfortably placed himself. The other vision belongs to the people, workers, farmers, youth, and market women, who insist on dignity, participation, and justice. The Socialist Movement of Ghana stands firmly with this second vision, which is also the vision of the ordinary people of Benin.”
The movement concluded by reaffirming opposition to any ECOWAS action that would strengthen Talon and called for support for citizen-led reforms.
“We call on ECOWAS to withdraw any support that strengthens Talon's anti-democratic rule. If ECOWAS wants stability in Benin, it must support democratic reforms rather than authoritarian consolidation. It must listen to civil society groups, journalists, student movements, labour organisations, and local communities, not just to the government in Cotonou,” it said.
“It must demand transparent reforms, protection of political freedoms, and genuine dialogue rooted in the will of the people. Anything less would be a betrayal of ECOWAS' own stated principles, and a betrayal of the people of Benin, who continue to resist repression with courage and dignity.”