The hunt for the architect of Benin’s abortive coup has crossed international borders, with intelligence reports now placing the fugitive commander in the heart of a neighboring capital.

A senior government official in Cotonou confirmed to the BBC that Lt Col Pascal Tigri, the alleged ringleader of Sunday’s insurrection, is currently seeking refuge in Togo. This development threatens to ignite a diplomatic firestorm in West Africa just days after Nigerian air power was required to save President Patrice Talon’s government.

The Flight to Lomé

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the Beninese official revealed that authorities have tracked Lt Col Tigri to Togo’s capital, Lomé. In a detail that adds a layer of geopolitical complexity, the source alleged the fugitive is staying in the same upscale district that houses Togolese 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 noted, signaling potential friction between the two French-speaking nations.

As of Thursday morning, the government in Lomé has remained silent on the allegations. If confirmed, harboring a coup leader could isolate Togo within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a bloc already struggling to contain a contagion of military takeovers.

Nigeria’s Muscular Intervention

The failure of the coup was not merely a result of internal resistance but a dramatic show of regional force. In a move that underscores Nigeria's role as the region's 'big brother,' Abuja deployed fighter jets to dislodge the mutineers.

Following a distress call from President Talon, Nigerian air support proved decisive in clearing the rebels from:

• The strategic military base occupied by the mutineers.
• The offices of the state broadcaster, where soldiers had announced the seizure of power.
• The perimeter of the presidential residence, where heavy gunfire had been exchanged.

For Kenyan observers, this direct military intervention by a neighbor mirrors the East African Community's recent deployments to the DRC, highlighting a growing trend of African nations stepping in to police their own backyards rather than relying solely on Western aid.

Democracy in the Crosshairs

This incident is the latest tremor in a region that has become known as the "coup belt." The attempted power grab in Benin follows a string of successful military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, raising urgent questions about the health of democracy across the continent.

While calm has returned to Cotonou, the political aftershocks are just beginning. The success of the extradition request will likely serve as a litmus test for regional cooperation. As the Beninese official emphasized, the ball is now firmly in Togo’s court to decide whether they will shield a fugitive or stand with constitutional order.