Bénin’s opposition challenges government on potential Niger military intervention

Following the military coup that unfolded in Niger on July 26, 2023, international reactions were immediate and widespread. Prominent organizations like ECOWAS and the AU, alongside countries such as the USA, France, and Russia, swiftly articulated their positions. In Bénin, the involvement of President Patrice Talon and the announcements hinting at a potential armed intervention have not been universally welcomed. According to Western press reports, Bénin might decide to deploy troops as part of an ECOWAS contingent to confront the military regime. Many stakeholders, notably the Catholic Church and various political figures, have openly expressed that a military option is not the appropriate course of action, advocating instead for diplomatic channels to resolve the ongoing crisis.

Elected representatives from the opposition party, « Les Démocrates », have directly confronted the government regarding the situation, submitting a comprehensive list of 19 urgent questions. Their primary concern revolves around the justification for Bénin’s military involvement, particularly given the fraternal ties between Bénin and Niger. They have raised alarms about adherence to the Béninese constitution, the safety of any deployed troops, and also about the potential for conflict escalation and its severe ramifications for civilian populations and for Bénin itself.

Beyond the military aspect, significant economic and diplomatic issues have also been brought to the forefront. The decision to close borders with Niger could lead to substantial repercussions for the Autonomous Port of Cotonou and the broader Béninese economy, which is already feeling the strain of ECOWAS sanctions. In response to rising prices for essential goods and the impact on economic operators, the opposition demands concrete answers from the government.

Dialogue is emerging as a preferred solution for several regional and international actors. The opposition lawmakers have reminded Patrice Talon of his own past statements advocating dialogue as an alternative to coups d’état and are urging him to implement such an inclusive dialogue within Bénin. The current moment calls for careful consideration, critical questioning, and, above all, the pursuit of peaceful and consensual solutions for the region’s future.

oral questioning with government debate

On July 26, 2023, a military coup d’état in Niger abruptly terminated the constitutional mandate of President Mohamed Bazoum. This event sparked reactions from numerous states worldwide and from sub-regional and regional organizations, including ECOWAS, the AU, and the UN. On Thursday, August 10, 2023, the heads of state and government of ECOWAS member countries convened an extraordinary summit, concluding with decisions that included ordering the deployment of the ECOWAS standby force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.

Consequently, the government of Bénin, through its various pronouncements, has opted to commit Béninese troops to the ECOWAS contingent slated to confront the military junta currently in power. Considering this governmental decision to involve the Béninese state in a conflict against the fraternal and sovereign people of Niger, a move seen as violating Article 101 of our constitution, and given that the sanctions imposed by the ECOWAS conference of heads of state during its July 30, 2023, session in Abuja are already causing severe economic, social, and security repercussions for our nation, the National Assembly, under the provisions of Article 108 and its various paragraphs of its internal regulations, requests the government to address the following concerns:

1. What measures has the government taken to consult parliament regarding the deployment of Béninese troops in the ECOWAS theater of operations in Niger, should the military option be pursued, in accordance with Article 101, paragraph 1, of our constitution, which states: « the declaration of war is authorized by the National Assembly »?
2. In anticipation of this potential conflict with the sovereign people of Niger, several nations, such as France and the United States, have made arrangements for the evacuation of their citizens from Niger. What provisions has the Béninese government made for its citizens residing in Niger?
3. Given that Bénin and Niger share a fraternal bond, what justifies Bénin’s willingness to send its troops to attack Niger, while other ECOWAS countries not bordering Niger decline to participate?
4. What is the projected number of Béninese soldiers and the essential logistical support the government intends to allocate to the ECOWAS contingent? What is the estimated cost of Bénin’s potential participation in this operation, and who will bear these expenses?
5. In the event of an attack on our sister nation, Niger, can our government provide assurance that no civilian lives in Niger, nor those of our own soldiers, will be lost?
6. What provisions has the government made for each soldier in terms of bonuses, and for each soldier’s family in the tragic event of Béninese soldiers dying in the theater of operations?
7. As Bénin shares a border with Niger, what guarantee can the government offer that, in the event of a counterattack by the Nigerian army, there will be no casualties on Béninese soil?
8. Can the government reassure the populace that, should a war with Niger erupt, potential jihadists will not exploit the situation to infiltrate our country, as observed previously in Libya?
9. Would it not be wiser to prioritize political and diplomatic dialogue, mirroring approaches taken in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea?
10. Is it not possible for Bénin to lead, as it has in the past within ECOWAS, in preventing coups d’état by addressing issues such as electoral exclusions, the imprisonment, and exile of political opponents?
11. Why is ECOWAS more reactive against military coups d’état yet tolerates institutional coups, as witnessed in Côte d’Ivoire in 2020, Guinea in 2021, and Bénin in 2019, 2020, and 2021, among other nations?
12. Is the restoration of President Mohamed Bazoum’s power more valuable than the lives of thousands of Nigerien civilians and ECOWAS contingent soldiers who might perish in a conflict?
13. What would be the future state of Niger following such a war?
14. The citizens within the ECOWAS region no longer trust our organization, often labeling it a ‘union of heads of state’. What steps does Bénin intend to take to restore the reputation of this sub-regional body?
15. Following the extraordinary ECOWAS summit, President Patrice Talon himself mentioned dialogue as an alternative to coups d’état. When can the inclusive dialogue, so desired by the Béninese opposition, be expected?
16. What are the implications of closing our borders with Niger on the Autonomous Port of Cotonou?
17. What are the effects of the sanctions already imposed by ECOWAS on the Béninese economy and its citizens?
18. What immediate measures has the government already implemented to counteract the rising prices of essential commodities?
19. What support does the Béninese government plan to offer economic actors already suffering from the consequences of ECOWAS sanctions (including port operators, transporters, and other economic stakeholders)?