Benin has called on neighbouring Togo to immediately extradite Colonel Pascal Tigri, the man authorities describe as the leader of a failed coup attempt, according to two senior Beninese government officials who spoke to Reuters on Wednesday. Tigri is reported to have sought refuge in Togo following the alleged plot, prompting a diplomatic standoff that risks further straining relations between the two countries.
Beninese officials say Tigri and several alleged accomplices attempted to destabilise the government, and they insist that those responsible must face justice on Beninese soil. They argue that Togo has a legal and regional obligation to hand him over without delay.
The situation threatens to deepen political divisions in a region already unsettled by a wave of military takeovers. West Africa’s response to repeated coups has been far from unified, with neighbouring states often split over how to handle military juntas, exiled leaders and alleged coup plotters. Analysts warn that a dispute between Benin and Togo over Tigri could further complicate ongoing efforts by the region’s institutions to restore collective stability.
Togo has not yet issued a public statement on Tigri’s presence or on Benin’s extradition request. However, diplomats in the region have noted that the case is likely to draw in broader political considerations, given the sensitivity around security cooperation and political asylum in West Africa.
For Benin, securing Tigri’s extradition is being framed as a matter of national security and regional credibility. As the standoff develops, observers say it could become a key test of West Africa’s ability to handle cross border political crises in an era marked by rising instability.
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