Senate approves troops deployment to Benin Republic
The Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin in support of efforts to restore peace and stability following last weekend’s attempted coup.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio announced this on Tuesday, during plenary after lawmakers considered the request in the Committee of the Whole in line with section 5, Part 11.
The Senators unanimously voted in favour of the deployment, giving legislative backing for the regional security intervention.
Akpabio described the decision as a step in the right direction, noting that instability in any neighboring state poses a threat to the entire region.
“An injury to one is an injury to all,” the lawmaker said, underscoring Nigeria’s responsibility to support its Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, partner.
Tinubu had written to the Nigerian Senate requesting consent for the deployment of Nigerian troops to Benin Republic.
Tinubu, in his letter to the upper chamber, had requested permission for the deployment, noting that Nigeria bears a historic responsibility to assist Benin under existing ECOWAS security arrangements.
He warned that the situation requires urgent external intervention to prevent further deterioration.
The attempted coup in Benin occurred on Sunday, when a faction of soldiers identifying themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundation” appeared on national television to declare that they had resolved that “Mr Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic”.
Meanwhile, the move was swiftly contained, as Benin’s loyal military forces pushed back and reclaimed control.
After the failed takeover, ECOWAS announced plans to deploy its standby force.
“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.
“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.
“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 bloc stated.
