At least 28 soldiers have been killed in northern Benin following an attack near the borders of Niger and Burkina Faso, according to a security source. The assault occurred on Wednesday evening, as violence linked to jihadist groups from neighboring countries continues to escalate.
The attack took place in a region increasingly plagued by insurgent activity from groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Military officials confirmed that they are still carrying out operations in the area, with 40 assailants reported neutralized.
Violence has surged in the northern region, especially near the border with Burkina Faso. In December, three Beninese soldiers were killed while guarding an oil pipeline, and in June, seven troops died in an attack at Pendjari National Park, located on the border with Burkina Faso.
Beninese authorities have reported over 20 cross-border incursions since 2021, with at least 121 soldiers killed between 2021 and December 2024. A diplomatic source noted that the security threat continues to grow, particularly as the situation in neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso worsens.
The Beninese military, still in the process of expansion, faces the challenge of building its capacity to fight the growing jihadist threat. Despite successes in neutralizing some attackers, officials are cautious about publicly discussing military operations to avoid revealing strategies to the insurgents.
Benin has been reinforcing its security efforts, deploying nearly 3,000 troops under Operation Mirador since January 2022, and recruiting an additional 5,000 personnel for the northern region. International support has also been crucial, with the United States providing $6.6 million in defense equipment, and the European Union contributing 47 million euros in anti-terrorism funding.
