Benin’s military has sustained significant casualties following a deadly attack near the country’s northern border, an area already plagued by insurgency linked to neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso. Colonel Faizou Gomina, the chief of staff for the National Guard, described the assault on a highly fortified military post as a “very hard blow.”
While the identity of the attackers remains unknown, the northern region of Benin has increasingly been targeted by armed groups. Security sources reported 28 soldiers were killed, while opposition party The Democrats put the death toll at 30. In retaliation, military operations are ongoing, with reports indicating that 40 attackers have been neutralized.
Colonel Gomina called on military leaders to reassess their strategies in light of the escalating security challenges, urging them to be more proactive. Since 2021, over 120 Beninese soldiers have been killed in the region, highlighting the continued threat posed by jihadist activities. This recent attack follows a previous incident in December where gunmen killed three soldiers and wounded four others guarding an oil pipeline in the northeast.
In 2022, Benin deployed nearly 3,000 troops to strengthen security along its northern border, but the latest assault underscores the persistent dangers in the region.