The Senate has approved President Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to Benin Republic as part of a peace mission in line with provisions of section 5, part 2 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The expeditious approval, according to the president of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, is to ensure peace and stability and to avoid a humanitarian crisis in the sub-region.
Benin Coup Attempt
On 7 December 2025, a group of soldiers in Benin calling themselves the Military Committee for Refoundation (CMR) appeared on state television claiming to have deposed Patrice Talon as president, dissolved the government, and suspended all state institutions.
They announced Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri as head of their new military committee. Gunfire was reportedly heard near the presidential residence and in parts of the country’s largest city, Cotonou.
Later that same day, Benin’s Interior Minister Alassane Seidou announced that loyalist troops had regained control, and the attempted coup was foiled with around 13 to 14 soldiers arrested though the coup leader, Pascal Tigri, reportedly remained at large.
Regional bodies, such as ECOWAS and African Union (AU) have strongly condemned the coup attempt calling it unconstitutional, demanding respect for the Beninese constitution, and pledging to support Benin’s legitimate institutions.
