Ouagadougou confirms protection for Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri after Benin foils a military takeover, deepening regional tensions and raising fresh extradition questions.
Burkina Faso has granted political asylum to Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, identified by Beninese authorities as the central figure behind a recently foiled coup attempt in the Republic of Benin, according to an official statement from President Ibrahim Traoré.
The decision places Burkina Faso at the center of a growing diplomatic dispute in West Africa, as Benin seeks the arrest and extradition of officers accused of attempting to seize power by force.
President Traoré said the move was consistent with Burkina Faso’s humanitarian obligations and regional solidarity commitments under the Alliance of Sahel States, a bloc formed by several military-led governments in the region.
“In keeping with these principles, Colonel Pascal Tigri will fully benefit from the hospitality and protection provided by Burkina Faso and other member states,” Traoré said, reaffirming what he described as a tradition of fraternity and cooperation among African nations.
Benin’s government has accused Tigri of orchestrating an attempted military takeover that briefly involved the seizure of a state television facility, where soldiers reportedly sought to announce a change in government before security forces intervened.
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Several officers were disarmed and arrested at the scene, according to officials familiar with the operation. Tigri, however, managed to evade capture, triggering an intensive manhunt.
Investigations by regional security sources indicate that Tigri left the broadcast facility shortly before the plot collapsed, allegedly slipping away unnoticed as security forces moved in. He is believed to have traveled discreetly north from Cotonou using local transportation, later crossing borders under cover of darkness.
Benin has not publicly detailed how Tigri exited the country but has raised concerns about possible external assistance. Authorities have not independently verified claims of bribery or collusion involving border officials in neighboring states.
The failed coup attempt was reportedly motivated by grievances within segments of the military over President Patrice Talon’s handling of security challenges in northern Benin, where extremist violence linked to the Sahel has increasingly spilled southward.
Tensions escalated further after President Talon urged neighboring governments, including Togo, to cooperate fully in apprehending those responsible. He warned that refusal to extradite suspects would raise serious diplomatic questions.
Burkina Faso’s decision to offer asylum underscores widening political and security fractures in the region, where military-led governments have increasingly resisted external pressure and emphasized mutual protection among allied states.
For now, Tigri’s presence in Burkina Faso is likely to complicate regional cooperation efforts, even as governments across West Africa grapple with rising instability and contested approaches to governance and security.
