A global affairs expert, Paul Ejime, expressed that the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has not adequately addressed the political turmoil in the Benin Republic.
Ejime shared his views on Wednesday during an interview on The Morning Brief, a program aired on Channels Television, which was followed by Naijatrial.
According to Naijatrial, there was an attempted coup in Cotonou, the capital of the Benin Republic, after an assault on President Patrice Talon’s residence in the Le Guézo area early on Sunday, December 7, 2025.
In his response, Ejime remarked, “I witnessed the coup in Guinea-Bissau as an observer, and I barely managed to escape that country. Now, we find ourselves in the Republic of Benin.
“I believe it is time for ECOWAS to stop merely talking. The moment for dialogue was many years ago, yet they have allowed the situation to escalate to this point.”
He added: “You have mentioned the deployment of a standby force, which is the most extreme measure you can take, involving the use of force. But why let the situation deteriorate to the point where force becomes necessary? Preventive diplomacy could have been employed.
“You could have addressed the issues at their inception, especially since the warning signs have always been present in the areas where these events are unfolding today.