Benin’s opposition challenges government on potential Niger military action

Following the military coup that took place in Niger on July 26, 2023, international reactions were swift. Key organizations such as ECOWAS, the AU, and nations including the USA, France, and Russia promptly articulated their positions. Within Benin, the involvement of Beninese President Patrice Talon and the pronouncements regarding a potential armed intervention have not been universally welcomed. Western media outlets have suggested that Benin might deploy troops alongside ECOWAS forces to confront the military junta. Numerous stakeholders, notably the Catholic Church and several political figures, have openly declared that a military approach is not the optimal solution, advocating instead for diplomatic engagement to resolve the crisis.

Elected representatives from the opposition party, « Les Démocrates », have forthrightly challenged the government on this matter, submitting a series of 19 critical questions. At the core of their inquiry is the justification for Benin’s military involvement, particularly given the fraternal relationship historically shared between Benin and Niger. They express profound concern over adherence to the Beninese constitution, the safety of any deployed troops, and also about the potential for conflict escalation and its broader repercussions for the civilian population and for Benin itself.

Beyond the military dimension, significant economic and diplomatic concerns have also been brought to light. The decision to close borders with Niger could have substantial consequences for the Autonomous Port of Cotonou and the wider Beninese economy, which is already feeling the strain of ECOWAS sanctions. In response to rising prices for essential goods and the impact on economic actors, the opposition is demanding concrete answers from the government.

Dialogue is emerging as a preferred solution for various regional and even international actors. The opposition lawmakers have reminded Patrice Talon of his own past statements endorsing dialogue as an alternative to coups d’état, urging him to implement such inclusive dialogue within Benin. This period calls for careful consideration, thorough questioning, and above all, the pursuit of peaceful and consensual solutions for the region’s future.

Oral question with debate to the government

On July 26, 2023, a military coup d’état occurred in Niger, prematurely ending 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 including the order to deploy the ECOWAS Standby Force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.

In this context, the government of Benin, through its various declarations, has committed to deploying Beninese troops as part of the ECOWAS contingent intended to confront the military junta in power. Considering this governmental decision to involve the Beninese state in a conflict against the sovereign and sister nation of Niger, in violation of Article 101 of our constitution, and given that the sanctions imposed by the ECOWAS Conference of Heads of State during its session on July 30, 2023, in Abuja, are already having severe repercussions on our country’s economic, social, and security situation, the National Assembly, pursuant to the provisions of Article 108 and its various paragraphs of its internal regulations, invites the government to address the following concerns:

1. What measures has the government taken to seek parliamentary approval regarding the deployment of Beninese troops in the ECOWAS theater of operations in Niger, should the military option be implemented, 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 against the sovereign people of Niger, several countries, such as France and the United States, have made arrangements for the evacuation of their nationals from Niger. What provisions has the Beninese government made for its citizens residing in Niger?
3. Given that Benin and Niger are sister nations, what justifies Benin’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 Beninese soldiers and the essential logistical support the government intends to provide to the ECOWAS contingent? What is the estimated cost of Benin’s potential participation in this operation? Who will bear these expenses?
5. In the event of an aggression against the sister nation of Niger, can our government guarantee that no civilian lives in Niger, nor those of our 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 event of death on the theater of operations?
7. As a country bordering Niger, what assurance can the government provide that in the event of a counter-attack by the Nigerian army, no casualties will be recorded on Beninese soil?
8. Can the government reassure the public that in the event of a war with Niger, potential jihadists will not exploit the situation to infiltrate our country, as occurred in Libya?
9. Would it not be wiser to prioritize political and diplomatic dialogue, as was the case in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea?
10. Is it not possible for Benin to lead, as it has in the past within ECOWAS, in preventing coups d’état by addressing issues such as electoral exclusions, imprisonment, and exile of political opponents?
11. Why is ECOWAS more eager to react against military coups d’état yet tolerates institutional coups observed in Côte d’Ivoire in 2020, Guinea in 2021, and Benin in 2019, 2020, and 2021, as well as in other countries?
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?
13. What would become of Niger after such a war?
14. The populations of the ECOWAS region no longer trust our organization, which they describe as a « union of Heads of State. » What does Benin intend to do to restore the image of this sub-regional organization?
15. Following the extraordinary ECOWAS summit, President Patrice Talon spoke of dialogue as an alternative to coups d’état. When will the inclusive dialogue, so desired by the Beninese opposition, take place?
16. What are the effects of closing our borders with Niger on the Autonomous Port of Cotonou?
17. What are the impacts of the sanctions already imposed by ECOWAS on the Beninese economy and its citizens?
18. What immediate measures has the government already implemented to counter the rising prices of essential commodities?
19. What fate does the Beninese government foresee for economic actors already suffering from the consequences of ECOWAS sanctions (port operators, transporters, business owners, etc.)?