A Director of Research at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs says Nigeria’s swift military intervention in Benin Republic following a reported coup attempt reflects a renewed regional resolve to defend democracy in West Africa.
Speaking to Nigeria Info FM, the Director of Research at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Professor Joshua Bolarinwa, described the wave of military takeovers across the Sahel and West Africa since 2020 as deeply troubling and harmful to governance on the continent.
“These coups are very sad events. They are also not acceptable because they signal a decline of democracy in Africa,” Bolarinwa said, noting that while democracy had long faced challenges from corruption, weak institutions and poor governance, recent developments marked an unprecedented reversal.
He said the situation was particularly concerning given earlier gains made by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in promoting democratic governance and regional security.
“ECOWAS has done so well in past years, especially in governance and regional security, but from around 2020, we began to see a reversal of these gains, particularly in the Sahel and West Africa,” he said, citing countries including Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Guinea-Bissau.
Bolarinwa said Nigeria’s response to Benin’s request for assistance followed established diplomatic and security protocols and underscored Abuja’s commitment to defending democracy within its immediate neighborhood.
He explained that Nigerian authorities acted swiftly after receiving a formal request from Benin’s government, deploying both air and ground forces to support efforts to foil the attempted takeover.
According to him, the intervention aligns with ECOWAS’ standby force framework, ratified by member states in 2024, which allows rapid collective action in response to security threats and unconstitutional changes of government.
He said commitments from countries including Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Nigeria showed growing political will within the bloc to strengthen regional security.
Bolarinwa added that Nigeria’s actions send a strong signal that democracy must be protected and sustained across West Africa.
“This demonstrates a renewed political will to entrench democracy and strengthen collective security, not only in West Africa but across the African continent,” he said.
