French officials have confirmed that France provided logistical and intelligence support, including aerial surveillance operations, to the Beninese army at the request of authorities in Cotonou.
The assistance was coordinated with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to counter a violent coup attempt targeting President Patrice Talon’s government last Sunday.
A statement from the French presidency (the Élysée) said President Emmanuel Macron led an intensive coordination effort that involved sharing information with regional leaders.
Macron held calls with the president of Benin as well as the presidents of Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
Meanwhile, the Beninese government disclosed that deadly clashes occurred outside the president’s residence, resulting in several deaths, including the wife of the president’s military chief of staff.
Benin also announced it had received direct military support from Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire to bolster efforts to foil the coup and restore stability.
President Patrice Talon, who has governed Benin since 2016, has previously stated that he would not seek a third term in the 2026 elections, in line with constitutional term limits.
