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Benin’s military has suffered significant losses in an attack near its northern border with insurgency-hit Niger and Burkina Faso, officials have confirmed.
Colonel Faizou Gomina, chief of staff for the national guard, described the assault on one of Benin’s most well-equipped military posts on Wednesday evening as a severe blow.
“We’ve been dealt a very hard blow,” Col Gomina stated, urging military commanders to strengthen their operational strategies to counter rising security threats.
While the perpetrators of the attack have not yet been identified, Benin has faced escalating violence in its northern region, often attributed to jihadist groups operating from neighboring countries.
The exact death toll remains unclear. The main opposition party, The Democrats, claimed about 30 soldiers were killed in the Alibori region, while AFP cited a security source reporting 28 fatalities. The military has reportedly “neutralized” 40 assailants in ongoing operations.
This attack adds to the rising toll of violence in Benin. More than 120 Beninese soldiers have been killed in similar attacks since 2021, according to a diplomatic source. Last month, gunmen killed three soldiers and wounded four others while guarding an oil pipeline in the northeast.
Col Gomina highlighted the significance of the targeted position, describing it as “one of the strongest and most militarized.” He urged officers and unit leaders to intensify efforts, saying, “Wake up, officers and section chiefs, we have battles to win.”
Benin deployed nearly 3,000 troops in 2022 to curb cross-border incursions and bolster security in the north, but the region continues to face persistent threats from armed groups.
