I condemn, without reservation and in the strongest possible terms, the coup d’état in the Benin Republic. This reckless trend of assault on constitutional order is utterly unacceptable, not only because of its dangerous proximity, but because the era of military interference in governance is long over in Africa and our sub-region. It is concerning that these coups are happening around election times in the affected countries.
The Benin presidential election is scheduled for April 2026 while the purported military take over in Guinea-Bissau happened on the eve of the expected announcement of the results of that country’s poll. It raises fears that some political operators may be using the military to cancel the democratic processes.
This trend is dangerous for the health of democracy in the West African sub-region and must be stopped before it becomes the rule and not the exception. Soldiers have no business anywhere outside their barracks, and every decisive measure must be taken to crush any emerging appetite for subverting democracy.
*Atiku Abubakar
Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007
Abuja.
