The African Union (AU) has condemned Sundays attempted military coup in the Republic of Benin, describing it as a clear violation of its principles on democratic governance.
A group of soldiers had on Sunday, announced that they had seized control of the government in the West African nation.
The group, calling itself the Military Committee for Refoundation, declared that the president and all political office holders had been removed from power and that all state institutions had been dissolved.
Hours later, however, the Benin presidency confirmed that President Talon was safe and that the “regular” army was regaining control.
The presidency dismissed the coup attempt, describing the soldiers involved as “a small group of people who only control the television.”
In a statement, Mahmoud Yousouf, chairperson of the AU Commission, said the attempted takeover “unequivocally” contravenes the AU’s frameworks on unconstitutional changes of government.
He cited several key instruments, including the AU Constitutive Act (2000), the Lomé Declaration (2000), the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (2007), and the Ezulwini Framework (2009), all of which reject military intervention in politics and affirm constitutional order as the foundation of stability on the continent.
Yousouf stressed that any form of military interference in political processes amounts to a “grave violation of the fundamental principles and values of the African Union.”
He urged those involved in the coup attempt to halt all unlawful actions immediately, respect Benin’s constitution, and return to their barracks without delay.
He also encouraged national stakeholders to prioritise unity, dialogue, and the preservation of peace.
The AU chairperson expressed deep concern over what he described as a “troubling proliferation of military coups and coup attempts” in parts of the region, warning that such actions undermine continental stability, roll back democratic progress, and embolden military actors to overstep constitutional boundaries.
He added that these trends erode public trust in institutions, weaken state authority, and threaten collective security.
Yousouf reiterated the AU’s firm zero-tolerance policy toward any unconstitutional change of government, regardless of circumstance or justification.
Source – Radio Nigeria
(vitalnewsngr.com)
