Benin's Military Faces Setback Amid Border Attacks

Benin's military confronts a staggering blow after a recent attack that killed multiple soldiers, while grappling with increasing jihadist violence in the region.

Benin has experienced a marked rise in attacks attributed to jihadist groups operating in nearby Niger and Burkina Faso. In a recent incident, Benin armed forces sustained severe casualties during an assault on one of the most fortified military installations located in the northern part of the country. Colonel Faizou Gomina, chief of staff of the national guard, lamented, "We've been dealt a very hard blow," highlighting the gravity of the situation.

The country has endured a troubling trend of escalating violence in recent years, particularly in its northern territories. A diplomatic source disclosed that over 120 Beninese military personnel lost their lives between 2021 and December 2024. Just last month, three soldiers were killed while guarding an oil pipeline in the northeast region.

While Colonel Gomina did not provide a specific number of casualties from the latest border attack, reports from the opposition party, The Democrats, suggested that approximately 30 soldiers were killed in the Alibori region. A security source estimated the death toll to be at 28. In response to the incident, military operations aimed at neutralizing the attackers reported that 40 assailants had been eliminated.

Addressing military leadership, Colonel Gomina urged commanders to enhance operational strategies to combat the rising wave of security threats. "Wake up, officers and section chiefs, we have battles to win," he emphasized. To bolster security and counter cross-border raids, Benin deployed nearly 3,000 troops last year to strengthen military efforts in the northern region.