Twenty-eight soldiers were killed in a jihadist attack in northern Benin, a security source confirmed on Thursday. The assault occurred Wednesday evening near the border shared with insurgency-plagued Burkina Faso and Niger.
According to the source, the military have launched a “clear-up” operation that has been successful in killing 40 so far. These are blamed on jihadis linked with the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda that have made northern Benin increasingly targeted over recent years.
It has been particularly affected at the border with Burkina Faso. In December, gunmen killed three soldiers and injured four others who were guarding an oil pipeline in northeast Benin. In June, seven troops were killed in an attack at Pendjari National Park near the Burkina Faso border.
Beninese authorities, who rarely publicly comment on such incidents, revealed in April 2023 that there had been around 20 cross-border incursions since 2021. According to a diplomatic source, between 2021 and December 2024, 121 military personnel of Benin lost their lives due to the increasing violence.
The source stressed that the threat is increasing as the security situation in Niger and Burkina Faso worsens, leaving more pressure on Benin’s increasingly developing military. The Beninese army continues training its forces and keeping working at the operational level while achieving some successes in combating terrorists.
In response to the growing threat, Benin launched Operation Mirador in January 2022, deploying nearly 3,000 troops to secure its borders. The government also recruited 5,000 additional personnel to bolster northern security.
International aid has been essential. The United States supplied $6.6 million in armoured vehicles and defense equipment in November, while the European Union has set aside €47 million in anti-terror funding this year. Beninese Defence Minister Fortunet Alain Nouatin said that assistance from Washington is vital for the armed forces’ missions.
Jihadist attacks have also recently targeted neighbouring countries Ghana and Togo, putting a regional dimension to the threat.