In a tragic incident in northern Benin, Islamic militants have reportedly killed at least 54 soldiers, according to the government. This attack occurred in the Alibori department, an area in the northeastern part of the country that shares borders with Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria.
Initially, the Beninese government had announced that eight soldiers had lost their lives during the assault last Thursday. However, this figure was significantly revised upward on Wednesday, highlighting the severity of the situation. The Mali-based terrorist group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), which has ties to Al-Qaeda, has claimed responsibility for the attack, asserting that it caused the deaths of 70 soldiers, as reported by the SITE Intelligence Group.
Increasing Terrorism in the Region
Benin has been grappling with a surge in terrorist activities in recent years. Groups operating from the Sahel region have been increasingly launching cross-border assaults, exacerbating the security concerns within the country. Particularly vulnerable is the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex, a border zone that involves Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where incidents of violence have seen a notable rise.
Call for Regional Cooperation
In response to this latest attack, Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji, a spokesperson for the Beninese government, emphasized the necessity of enhanced cooperation among neighboring countries to tackle the jihadist threat effectively. He remarked,
“The points where these attacks of 17 April took place are on the border, so you can understand that if, on the other side of the border, there was a force like ours, these attacks would not take place in this way or would not even occur.”
He further expressed the profound loss felt within the community, stating,
“The soldiers who have fallen are our children, our parents, our friends.”
It is notable that JNIM had previously claimed responsibility for an attack in January that resulted in the deaths of 28 Beninese soldiers. The escalating violence underscores the urgent need for a coordinated regional response to combat the rising tide of extremism.