United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed profound concern regarding an attempted unconstitutional seizure of power in the West African nation of Benin. The UN chief’s spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, issued an official statement on Sunday condemning the destabilizing actions that threatened democratic governance in the country.
Guterres emphasized the critical importance of maintaining constitutional order and the rule of law in Benin, warning that such attempts to undermine democratic institutions could have far-reaching consequences for regional stability throughout West Africa. The Secretary-General’s statement called for immediate respect for Benin’s constitutional framework and democratic processes.
In a related development, Benin’s Minister of Interior and Public Security, Alassane Seidou, confirmed that national armed forces successfully thwarted an attempted mutiny designed to destabilize the state and its governing institutions. The coordinated response by security forces prevented what could have escalated into a full-scale political crisis.
The attempted coup comes amid growing concerns about democratic backsliding in several West African nations, where military takeovers have recently occurred in neighboring countries. Benin, once celebrated as a model of democratic stability in the region, now faces heightened security tensions following this destabilizing attempt to seize power unconstitutionally.