The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has ordered the immediate deployment of its Standby Force to the Republic of Benin in response to Sunday’s attempted coup.

In an urgent statement titled “ECOWAS Statement N°2 on Bénin”, the regional bloc said the decision follows consultations among member-state leaders and is in line with its conflict-management protocols.

“The Chair of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government has ordered the deployment of elements of the ECOWAS Standby Force to the Republic of Benin with immediate effect,” the statement read.

The force will be composed of troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana, tasked with supporting Benin’s national institutions and preventing further threats to stability.

“The Force shall support the Government and the Republican Army of Benin to preserve constitutional order and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Benin,” ECOWAS added.

This marks ECOWAS’s second formal communication since the crisis began and signals the bloc’s firm stance against unconstitutional changes of government in West Africa.

Earlier, ECOWAS condemned the attempted coup as “an unconstitutional move that represents a subversion of the will of the people of Benin,” calling for full adherence to the country’s constitutional order.

The statement also warned that the coup plotters would be held accountable for any loss of life or property and reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to assist Benin through all necessary measures, including the deployment of the regional standby force.