This small West African country is increasingly faced with attacks attributed to jihadists. Benin once again suffered an attack on its armed forces; 28 soldiers were killed on Wednesday January 8 in the North.
“Twenty-eight members of the defense and security forces were killed”a senior military source who requested anonymity told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Thursday. “The attack took place at the triple point”the name given to the border area between Benin, Niger and Burkina Faso, said the same source.
Attacks in northern Benin have increased in recent years and are attributed by authorities to jihadist fighters from the Islamic State (IS) organization and Al-Qaeda from neighboring countries, where they are active. The border region with Burkina Faso remains the epicenter of these attacks. “We are continuing the sweep. For the moment, forty attackers have been neutralized”added the AFP military source.
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In December, three Beninese soldiers were killed and four others injured in an attack in northeastern Benin. In June, seven Beninese soldiers were killed in an attack in the Pendjari National Park located on the border with Burkina Faso.
The Beninese authorities, who communicate little about these attacks, reported in April 2023 about twenty cross-border incursions since 2021. According to an AFP diplomatic source, 121 Beninese soldiers were killed between 2021 and December 2024.
3,000 soldiers to secure the borders
In January 2022, Benin deployed nearly 3,000 soldiers to secure its borders as part of Operation “Mirador”. Beninese authorities have also recruited 5,000 additional soldiers to strengthen security in the north.
On November 27, the United States Embassy donated 12 armored personnel carriers, 280 ballistic plates and 35 tactical radios to the Beninese army. The value of this equipment is estimated at 6.6 million dollars (6.4 million euros), according to Brian Shukan, ambassador of the United States.
This American support constitutes “valuable support to the armed forces in their defense missions”declared the Beninese Minister of Defense, Fortunet Alain Nouatin, during the handover of this equipment. At the end of April, the European Union announced that it would release 47 million euros, notably through the purchase of materials and equipment, to support Benin in its fight against terrorism. Ghana and Togo, neighboring countries of Benin, have also suffered jihadist attacks in recent years.
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