COTONOU, Benin — The alleged leader of last week’s failed coup in Benin, Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, has reportedly fled to neighbouring Togo, according to government officials and regional media.
Escape and Exile
Beninese officials told Reuters that Tigri and others involved in the coup are hiding in Lomé 2, a district of the Togolese capital. Jeune Afrique also reported the same location.
On Sunday, Tigri appeared on Benin’s state television with seven soldiers, claiming to have ousted President Patrice Talon. Within hours, Benin’s armed forces — backed by Nigerian troops and French logistical support — thwarted the attempt.
At least 14 people were arrested, but Tigri managed to escape, with his whereabouts unclear until reports of his presence in Togo emerged.
Regional Implications
Beninese authorities have asked Togo to extradite the fugitive soldiers. President Talon denounced the coup as “treachery” that “will not go unpunished.”
The incident adds to a string of coups in West Africa, testing regional cooperation and security frameworks.