A decade of subtle erosion, of constitutional maneuvering and creeping repression, culminated in a desperate act in Benin. The recent coup attempt wasn’t a sudden explosion of violence, but the inevitable consequence of a nation systematically dismantling the foundations of its own democracy.
To condemn the soldiers who took up arms is necessary, but insufficient. True understanding demands acknowledging the crisis brewing beneath the surface – a crisis born of stifled opposition, a compromised judiciary, and a government increasingly detached from the will of its people. This wasn’t a break from the past; it was the logical, tragic extension of it.
The unraveling began in 2016, with a methodical dismantling of Benin’s political landscape. The independence of the courts was undermined by the creation of a special tribunal, ostensibly to fight crime, but effectively used to silence dissent. Electoral rules were rewritten, effectively barring opposition parties from meaningful participation and resulting in a parliament devoid of genuine representation.
Repression wasn’t confined to legal maneuvers. Activists and prominent figures faced fabricated charges and targeted prosecution, their fates decided not by justice, but by political expediency. International condemnation, even from bodies like the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, was met not with reform, but with withdrawal from the court’s jurisdiction – a defiant rejection of accountability.
Constitutional revisions further cemented the trend. Changes to electoral laws raised the bar for presidential candidates to an almost insurmountable level. Then came sweeping constitutional amendments, extending presidential and parliamentary terms and establishing a powerful, appointed upper house of parliament – a clear path for the current president to maintain influence long after leaving office.
But the reach of the government’s repression extended beyond Benin’s borders. Activists were abducted from neighboring countries – Togo and Côte d’Ivoire – snatched off the streets and spirited back to Benin, held incommunicado and subjected to the whims of the regime. These brazen acts demonstrated a chilling disregard for international law and the sovereignty of other nations.
This wasn’t governance; it was a calculated transformation of a democratic state into an autocracy, cloaked in the language of constitutional legitimacy. It eroded trust, stifled civic engagement, and left citizens with no peaceful avenue to influence their political destiny. The coup attempt wasn’t surprising; it was tragically predictable.
The situation was exacerbated by a divisive regional and international approach. President Talon increasingly governed through exclusion, exploiting regional identities for political gain. This fractured the military, polarized society, and forced the government to rely on external support to compensate for its lack of domestic legitimacy.
The intervention of Nigeria following the coup attempt revealed a dangerous precedent. While presented as a regional security measure, it risked being perceived as a violation of Benin’s sovereignty, stirring nationalist sentiment and potentially destabilizing the entire region. It also threatened to undermine the credibility of ECOWAS’s crisis management frameworks.
France, too, bears responsibility. By overlooking the growing authoritarian tendencies of the Talon administration, Paris prioritized short-term interests over long-term stability. The president openly dismissed democracy as an impediment to decision-making, and France largely ignored this warning sign.
This shortsightedness undermines France’s credibility, particularly in the Sahel region, where anti-French sentiment is already high. By propping up a regime that criminalizes dissent, France risks fueling instability and pushing Benin toward alliances with nations hostile to Western interests.
The United States and the European Union must also reassess their approach. Supporting Benin solely as a bulwark against regional insecurity ignores the fundamental flaws in its governance model. True stability requires legitimacy, inclusion, and accountability – qualities conspicuously absent under the current administration.
ECOWAS faces a critical test. It cannot credibly condemn military coups while tolerating “constitutional coups” that achieve the same outcome through legal manipulation. Its legitimacy depends on consistently defending democratic norms and resisting the temptation to prop up incumbents at all costs.
The crisis in Benin serves as a stark warning. Democracies don’t collapse overnight; they are eroded slowly, through ignored breaches and unchecked abuses of power. The international community must listen to the voices of the Beninese people and prioritize long-term governance realities over short-term partnerships.
Benin doesn’t need isolation; it needs a reset. A new leader must restore institutional integrity, rebuild trust with citizens and the military, and reassure neighbors that Benin will not become a pawn in a larger geopolitical game. The path forward is clear, but it requires a commitment to genuine democracy and a willingness to learn from the mistakes of the past.
