International Relations Expert, Professor Vladimir Antwi-Danso, has advised the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to proceed carefully as it deploys a regional standby force to Benin following an attempted military overthrow of President Patrice Talon.
The warning follows reports that elements within the Beninese military attempted a coup on Sunday. The French Embassy in Benin confirmed that heavy gunfire was heard around the President’s residence in Cotonou as the renegade soldiers announced the suspension of the constitution and ordered the closure of the country’s borders and airspace.
In response to the unstable political situation, ECOWAS on Sunday, December 7, 2025, activated its Standby Force and moved personnel into Benin, stating that the mission was intended to help maintain constitutional governance and protect national security.
However, speaking on Channels TV on Sunday, December 7, Prof Antwi-Danso urged the bloc to avoid what he described as a “knee-jerk deployment.”
He noted that the speed of the decision, without full clarity on the internal dynamics of the attempted coup, could place both the mission and contributing countries at unnecessary risk.
“ECOWAS is always having a knee-jerk reaction,” he said. “When a situation like this happens, intelligence is very important. You need to understand the environment before acting. If any of the troops that have just been rushed to Benin include a Ghanaian contingent, and there are casualties, the repercussions back home will be very bad.”
Prof Antwi-Danso stressed that ECOWAS has an obligation to defend democratic institutions, but insisted that its interventions must be grounded in sound intelligence, diplomatic engagement, and clearly defined operational goals.
He maintained that a deliberate, well-coordinated approach would be far more effective than an immediate military response.
