Benin’s military has suffered significant losses following a deadly attack near its northern border with Niger and Burkina Faso, areas plagued by insurgent activity, officials have reported.
Colonel Faizou Gomina, chief of staff for the national guard, described the assault on Wednesday evening as a severe blow to one of the country’s most fortified military positions in the north.
“We’ve been dealt a very hard blow,” he said.
While the perpetrators of the attack have yet to be identified, Benin has faced a rise in violence in its northern regions in recent years, often attributed to jihadist groups operating from neighboring countries.
Reports on the number of casualties vary. Col Gomina did not confirm an exact death toll, but the opposition party, The Democrats, claimed about 30 soldiers were killed in the Alibori region, according to Reuters.
An AFP security source placed the death toll at 28.
The attackers also suffered losses. “We are continuing cleaning-up operations. Forty assailants have been neutralized so far,” said a military source.
Col Gomina underscored the strategic importance of the position targeted, calling it “one of the strongest and most militarized.”
He urged commanders to reassess and strengthen their operational strategies to address ongoing security threats. “Wake up, officers and section chiefs, we have battles to win,” he said.
The attack adds to the toll of rising violence in Benin. Between 2021 and December 2024, more than 120 Beninese soldiers have been killed, according to a diplomatic source cited by AFP.
Just last month, gunmen killed three soldiers and injured four others guarding an oil pipeline in the northeast.
In response to the growing threat, Benin deployed nearly 3,000 troops in 2022 to bolster northern security and prevent cross-border incursions.
However, this latest attack highlights the ongoing challenges the country faces in combating insurgent activities.
Source-BBC
