…A top level manhunt unfolds after failed mutiny
A tense international manhunt is underway for Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, the alleged ringleader of Sunday’s failed coup attempt in Benin, who is now reported to be hiding in neighbouring Togo.
The development threatens to strain regional diplomacy as Benin prepares to formally request his extradition.
According to a senior Beninese government official who spoke to the BBC on condition of anonymity, Tigri is believed to be in the Togolese capital, Lomé, in a high-security area near the residence of President Faure Gnassingbé.
“We don’t know how to explain this, but we will make an official extradition request and see how the Togolese authorities will react,” the official stated.
The mutiny unfolded early Sunday when soldiers seized the state broadcaster, declaring they had overthrown President Patrice Talon’s government. The attempt was swiftly crushed by a combination of loyalist forces and decisive regional intervention.
At the request of President Talon, Nigeria deployed fighter jets that dislodged rebels from a military base and the TV headquarters. ECOWAS, taking a firm stand against a recent wave of coups in West Africa, quickly deployed a stabilization force from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast to secure key sites.
French special forces also assisted in subsequent “mopping up operations,” according to a senior Beninese military official, though the government has only confirmed French intelligence support.
The attempted coup has sent shockwaves through a region struggling with instability. Benin, long considered a stable democracy, has faced growing security threats from jihadist groups spilling over from the Sahel.
The rebels’ broadcast cited government mismanagement, deteriorating security, and cuts to public services as justifications for their actions—grievances echoed in other nations recently taken over by military juntas.
Analysts note that the event reflects broader geopolitical competition. Following the coup attempts, several pro-Russian social media accounts celebrated the news, highlighting the tug-of-war for influence in a region where former colonial power France is being increasingly sidelined.
A Diplomatic Test for Togo
All eyes are now on Togo’s response. As a fellow member of ECOWAS, which unanimously condemned the coup attempt, Togo is expected to cooperate. However, harbouring a fugitive sought for treason in a neighbouring country presents a significant diplomatic challenge.
Authorities in Lomé have not yet publicly commented on Tigri’s alleged presence. The pending extradition request will be a critical test of regional solidarity and Togo’s commitment to the bloc’s anti-coup stance.
The manhunt for Lt. Col. Tigri has transformed a failed domestic mutiny into a cross-border crisis, with implications for security, diplomacy, and the balance of power across West Africa.
— Reported with information from BBC and AFP
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