West Africa’s “coup belt” widens as the continent confronts a striking resurgence of military takeover attempts in just the past four years. The results have included attempts to undermine the stability of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and to undermine flawed so-called democracies through constitutional violations. In the meantime, former colonial masters like France seek to maintain an economic foothold in Africa through its new France-Nigeria-ECOWAS military alliance.
French influence, though waning due to the cutting of so-called francophone ties by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, remains in effect through a “colonial pact” and obligates several African countries to keep a large percentage of their foreign reserves at the French Central Bank. In the past, nation-states that resisted this system of exploitation were often removed through colonial coups or assassinations.
Today, 195 years after its invasion of Algeria in 1830, France remains a major influence in West Africa, helping coordinate the region’s armed forces, led by Nigeria, in their recent intervention in Benin, according to Owei Lakemfa, in an op-ed published in Nigerian-based premiumtimesng.com. Lakemfa is a human rights activist and former secretary general of the African Workers.
France’s meddling on the continent is a contributing factor to fomenting violence, distrust and division on the continent. The European country recently provided logistical support to African troops, provided surveillance, and shared intelligence with Nigeria, which led to the recent air and ground intervention in Benin to counter reports of a coup. In early December, reports of a coup attempt in Benin made headlines after a group of soldiers briefly seized the country’s national television station and a military base. On December 7, armed soldiers appeared on Benin’s national television and announced they had seized power.
According to regional security sources, French intelligence supplied real-time surveillance and aerial intelligence during the early hours of the crisis, noted truthnigeria.com. “This enabled Beninese loyalists and Nigerian planners to track mutinous units and secure sensitive installations with minimal civilian disruption.
“France also activated diplomatic backchannels. President Emmanuel Macron maintained direct contact with President Talon and key ECOWAS leaders, ensuring political clarity and preventing mixed signals that could have emboldened the coup plotters,” the outlet reported, referring to Benin President Patrice Guillaume Athanase Talon.
Talon, who made his fortune selling cotton, Benin’s main export, came to power after winning elections in 2016. “Under his rule Benin has witnessed significant infrastructure development and economic growth, reaching 7.5% in 2024. Though he came to power campaigning to end corruption and supporting a single five-year term for the president, he ran for re-election in 2021,” explained African Business.
Benin is also a key transit hub for goods entering Nigeria, and its Cotonou Port handles major shipments of commodities and products. “Any disruption in Benin’s political environment threatens to slow imports and exports, potentially affecting markets in Lagos, Ogun and the wider southwest corridor,” noted The Guardian.
Stopping the reported coup in Benin to keep Talon in power is in France’s interests. France’s motives are clear.
“A successful coup (in Benin) would also have cost France another key partner in a region where its influence is already receding. After being forced out of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, Benin remains one of Paris’s last cooperative partners in Francophone West Africa,” reported truthnigeria.com.
Unfortunately, some African leaders, including Talon, are cooperating with France. Among those who also sent troops to “defend democracy” in Benin to stop the reported coup attempt was President Alassane Dramane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast). The 83-year-old has been in office since 2010 and is serving his fourth term, even though the constitutional limit is two terms. But Ouattara does not appear ready to leave office soon, as he is also a key point person for France on the continent.
France is still heavily involved militarily in Africa. “In the wake of the attempted coup, French President Emmanuel Macron boasted that he called Presidents Talon, Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria and Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone to coordinate a joint response. Bio, a veteran coup plotter who played central roles in the 1992 and 1999 coups in his country, which made him deputy head of state and then head of state, is the current chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS),” explained Lakemfa in his article on premiumtimesng.com.
However, in the wake of other West African nations breaking their colonial ties with France following coups by leaders seeking independence and self-reliance, some tensions are developing with countries that still maintain ties to the former colonial entity.
“The new France-Nigeria-ECOWAS military alliance in the region is likely to increase the antagonism with the anti-French Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The AES, made up of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, has always accused Nigeria and countries like Cote d’Ivoire of being mere stooges of France and imperialism,” Lakemfa noted.
France’s imprint is still making its mark in Africa. However, will other countries follow the path of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to break those colonial ties, or will their political leaders fight to maintain their grip on power, thereby continuing to benefit France?
Follow Jehron Muhammad @africawatchfcn on X.