Coups: Tinubu Mobilises ECOWAS Leaders As Benin Detains Former President’s Son

President Bola Tinubu on Sunday called on West African leaders to unite against renewed threats to democracy, pointing to the recent attempted coup in Benin Republic and fresh political instability in Guinea-Bissau.

Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, made the call while delivering the opening address at the 68th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government held at the State House in Abuja.

His remarks came as Chabi Yayi, son of former Beninese president and current opposition leader Thomas Boni Yayi, was arrested at his residence early Sunday, according to relatives. No official reason was given for the arrest, which followed the foiled coup attempt in Benin a week earlier. Family members and associates said it was unclear whether the arrest was linked to the incident.

Since the December 7 coup attempt, several arrests have been made in Benin, including that of former defence minister and prominent opposition figure Candide Azannai, who was detained on allegations of conspiracy against the state and incitement to rebellion. Authorities have also issued an international arrest warrant for pan-Africanist activist Kemi Seba, who responded defiantly in a video message on Sunday.

Addressing leaders at the ECOWAS meeting, Tinubu said the region faced mounting external and internal threats that required collective action. He listed terrorism, violent extremism, unconstitutional changes of government, organised crime, arms proliferation, cyber insecurity, climate shocks, food insecurity and irregular migration as key challenges confronting West Africa.

He warned that the region was most vulnerable not from external pressure but from internal divisions, stressing that ECOWAS is bound by shared history, culture and collective aspirations. According to him, persuasion, solidarity and dialogue—not force—should guide the bloc through its current difficulties.

Tinubu noted that recent disagreements had strained regional unity but emphasised that ECOWAS can only succeed when member states uphold justice, fairness and democratic values within their borders. He urged leaders to speak with one voice on security, governance and economic issues, arguing that no country could achieve lasting stability in isolation.

The meeting comes after years of turbulence in the region, marked by coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, which eventually led to the withdrawal of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso from ECOWAS in early 2024. More recent concerns include the attempted coup in Benin on December 7, 2025, and renewed unrest in Guinea-Bissau, previously described by former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan as a “ceremonial coup.”

Following the Benin incident, Tinubu approved the deployment of Nigerian jets and troops at the request of the Beninese government. The Nigerian Senate later endorsed the decision, authorising the deployment of troops to help restore stability. Benin’s foreign ministry has since confirmed that about 200 West African soldiers, mainly from Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, are supporting the country’s security efforts.

ECOWAS Chair and Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio praised the swift regional response, condemning unconstitutional power grabs and warning that instability in one country threatens the entire region. He reaffirmed ECOWAS’ zero tolerance for coups and commended Nigeria’s leadership role in the Benin intervention.

Bio described the current moment as critical for the 50-year-old regional bloc, citing the spread of terrorism, violent extremism and organised crime. He outlined plans to operationalise the ECOWAS Standby Force for counter-terrorism, supported by a sustainable financing framework, with efforts underway to raise a 1,650-strong counter-terrorism brigade by the end of 2026.

Beyond security, Bio called for deeper economic integration to strengthen democracy and public trust. He highlighted progress toward a single ECOWAS currency by 2027 and announced plans to reduce the cost of air travel across West Africa from January 1, 2026, including the removal of air transport taxes and a 25 per cent reduction in passenger and security charges.

President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, also praised the bloc’s coordinated political and military response in foiling the Benin coup attempt. He noted that ECOWAS leaders had demonstrated both moral and military resolve in defending constitutional order.

Touray said the Authority would take key decisions beyond routine matters as it confronts shifting global dynamics, security pressures and challenges to multilateralism that could affect the bloc’s Vision 2050 goals. He stressed the need to revitalise regional integration in light of changing geopolitical realities.

He also announced the launch of the ECOWAS Business Council to strengthen private sector participation in regional integration, revealing that industrialist Aliko Dangote had accepted to serve as its pioneer chair. The council, he said, would serve as a platform for government–business dialogue and support regional investment, with plans for a West African economic investment summit in the future.

Sunday’s session was described as a special debate focused on the future direction of the ECOWAS community.