Benin's former President Thomas Boni Yayi condemns recent coup attempt

Former Beninese President Thomas Boni Yayi, whose opposition Democrats party has been excluded from next year's presidential elections, on Tuesday condemned Sunday's failed coup in a video posted on Facebook.

On Sunday, a group of soldiers announces that they had ousted President Patrice Talon on national television, before authorities swiftly quelled the attempted uprising with military backing from several other West African countries.

"I condemn, most vigorously and strongly, this bloody and shameful attack on our country," said Boni Yayi, a former chairperson of the African Union who served as Benin's president from 2006 to 2016.

'Unconditional principle'

The transfer of state power "responds to a single cardinal and unconditional principle: that of the ballot box, that of the people, that of free and transparent elections", Boni Yayi added.

His party was barred from next year's ballot after the election commission rejected its candidate, Renaud Agbodjo over insufficient sponsors.

The attempted coup left several people dead while at least a dozen plotters were arrested.

Talon, who succeeded Boni Yayi as president, is set to pass the baton to a successor after April's poll, having served the maximum two terms permitted by the constitution.

ECOWAS voices concern

Benin's ruling coalition has fronted Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni as its candidate in next year's presidential election.

Military intervention from Nigeria and other nations helped foil the coup attempt in Benin.

Omar Alieu Touray, the president of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), meanwhile declared on Tuesday that "elections have become a major trigger of instability in our community."

"(There is a) growing erosion of electoral inclusivity across multiple states," added Touray, given "the persistence of military interventions".

'State of emergency'

"We also have to negotiate with our neighbours, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), particularly the terms of our security cooperation as we continue to see the devastating effect of terrorist groups along our borders with them."

"Our community is in a state of emergency," he warned.

The AES is made up of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, all currently run by military governments. The three nations are former members of ECOWAS.