French President Macron calls Tinubu amidst Benin Republic’s coup attempt tension

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

President Emmanuel Macron of France revealed on Sunday that he had spoken with President Bola Tinubu on the ongoing security challenges in the country.

Macron revealed this in a post on his X account. The French President said he spoke to Tinubu about the security situation in the Northern part of Nigeria.

He said he convened the solidarity of the French people to Tinubu over the situation.

Macron revealed that President Tinubu requested support and partnership of France in tackling the security challenges and taking care of the affected population.

Macron said the French government will accede to the request.

He also called on other partners to step up their engagements with Nigeria to tackle the challenges, saying “no one can be a spectator.”

Macron, in the tweet, said,

“I spoke with President Tinubu of Nigeria, @officialABAT.

“I conveyed France’s solidarity in the face of the various security challenges, particularly the terrorist threat in the North.

“At his request, we will strengthen our partnership with the authorities and our support for the affected populations. We call on all our partners to step up their engagement.

“No one can remain a spectator.”

Coup Tension in Benin Republic

Macron discussion with Tinubu came amidst heightened tension over a coup announced earlier on Sunday by a group of soldiers in neighbouring Benin Republic, a former colony of France.

A group of soldiers had appeared on Benin ’s state TV Sunday to announce the dissolution of the government in an apparent coup, the latest of many in West Africa.

The group, which called itself the ‘Military Committee for Refoundation’, announced the removal of the president and all state institutions.

The mutinous soldiers further said that Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri had been appointed president of the military committee.

Following its independence from France in 1960, the West African nation witnessed multiple coups, especially in the decades following its independence.

However, since 1991, the country has been politically stable following the two-decade rule of former President Mathieu Kérékou.

Wilfried Houngbedji, the spokesperson for the Benin Government, told The Associated Press that the attempt to disrupt civilian rule has failed.

“Everything is fine,” he said.

However, there has been no official news about President Patrice Talon since gunshots were heard around the presidential residence early Sunday.

The he regional bloc, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) swiftly condemned the short-lived coup in a statement.

ECOWAS said the “unconstitutional move represents a subversion of the will of the people of Benin.”

The body vowed to support the government and the people in all forms necessary to defend the Constitution and the territorial integrity of Benin.

Talon has been in power since 2016 and was due to step down next April after the presidential election.

Talon’s party pick, former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, was the favorite to win the election.

Opposition candidate Renaud Agbodjo was rejected by the electoral commission on the grounds that he did not have sufficient sponsors.

The Sunday’s attempt is the latest in the waves of military coups sweeping across West Africa.

Last month, a military coup in Guinea-Bissau led to removal of former President Umaro Embalo after a contested election in which both he and the opposition candidate declared themselves winners.

Military governments are in power in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso after successful coups in the three West African countries.

However, Macron did not indicate if the issue of the coup in Benin Republic came up in his discussion with President Tinubu.

Insecurity in Nigeria

Macron discussion with Tinubu also came against heightened calls on Nigeria to tackle killings in the country by the United States of America.

US President Donald Trump had designated Nigeria a particular country of concern over alleged genocide against christians in the country.

Some US congressmen had also threatened to work for the imposition of economic and other sanctions on Nigeria and Nigerians allegedly behind the killings of Christians.

However, the Nigerian government has denied the allegation and there are now indications that the US government is willing to work with Nigeria to tackle the security challenges.

This followed a visit of the Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser, NSA Nuhu Ribadu to the US to interact with congressmen and top government officials of the Trump’s administration over the allegation.

President Tinubu has also declared state of emergency over the security situation in the country following a series of mass abductions and attacks by terrorists and bandits in Northern and Central part of Nigeria.

As part of the emergency measures, the Nigerian President ordered massive recruitment of police and military personnel and appointed a new defence minister to tackle the worsening situation.