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West African forces were sent to Benin on Sunday in the wake of what the nation's leader characterized as an failed coup attempt.

Leader Asserts Control After Defense Forces Act

Benin’s president, Patrice Talon, stated on Sunday that the situation was “totally under control” after security forces acted to halt a coup attempt by a faction of soldiers who assaulted state institutions.

Regional Bloc Authorizes Troop Dispatch

But, Ecowas – West Africa’s regional bloc – said it had mandated the immediate dispatch of units of its reserve troops to the nation, which has a population of about 14.5 million people.

“Troops from Ghana, Ivory Coast, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Sierra Leone were being sent to ‘support the government and the Republican Army of Benin to preserve constitutional order and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Benin’,” the bloc stated in a statement.

Air Strikes Conducted by Neighboring Country

A neighboring country's air force also struck sites in Benin, a informed official told the press on Sunday. An military spokesperson commented this action was “consistent with Ecowas protocols and the Ecowas standby force mandate”.

It was not clear what the targets of the aerial operations were.

Rebellion Targeting State Destabilization

Earlier on Sunday a band of military members had “launched a mutiny”, Benin’s security chief said, “intending to destabilising the state and its structures”.

The soldiers had appeared on Benin’s state TV to announce the dissolution of the administration in the latest of many coups and failed seizures of power in the region.

The group, which called itself the Armed Forces Restoration Council, declared the removal of the president and all government bodies. Lt Col Pascal Tigri was named president of the junta, the soldiers said.

Government Forces Thwart Plot

The swift mobilisation of units supporting the administration “enabled the defeat of these plotters”, Talon said in a speech aired on state TV after the authorities regained control of the broadcaster.

“This betrayal will not go unpunished,” he continued.

Most Recent Challenge to Regional Stability

The attempted coup was the latest challenge to constitutional governance in the region, where armed forces have in the past few years seized power in Benin’s neighbors Niger and Burkina Faso, as well as in Mali, Guinea and, only last month, Guinea-Bissau.

But, it was a unexpected event in Benin, where the last successful coup occurred in 1972.

Arrests Carried Out in Relation to Events

A official representative, earlier said that 14 people had been detained in connection to the events as of that afternoon, without providing details.

Incident Amid Election Planning

The attempt occurred while the country was preparing for a presidential election in the spring that would mark the conclusion of the term of Talon, sixty-seven, who has been in office since 2016.

In their broadcast announcement, the individuals behind the attempt mentioned the deteriorating safety conditions in northern Benin “combined with the lack of care and attention of our fallen brothers-in-arms”.

Talon has been credited with stimulating the economy, but the nation has also seen an increase in attacks by jihadist militants that have caused devastation in Mali and Burkina Faso.