Clashes in Benin over the past week between armed groups and military forces have resulted in the deaths of ten individuals, including one soldier. This incident highlights a troubling trend of increased attacks on military positions in the West African nation, which has been grappling with security challenges linked to the spillover of violence from neighboring countries.
While the economic capital, Cotonou, continues to attract international tourists, the northern regions of Benin, which are significantly poorer, have been experiencing a rise in violent attacks that the government often attributes to jihadist groups extending their influence from Burkina Faso and Niger.
In a decisive military response, the army launched an “offensive operation” overnight from Thursday into Friday, which reportedly led to the neutralization of nine terrorists, according to a source close to the military command. This operation occurred in the commune of Karimama, a region near the Niger border, following an earlier incident in Kantoro where an improvised explosive device resulted in one soldier’s death and injuries to two others.
While historically the border region with Burkina Faso has been the epicenter of such violence, there has been a noticeable increase in attacks near the border with Niger recently. An officer revealed that the military operation involved offensive aerial support that successfully destroyed a significant logistics hub used by terrorists.
The growing insecurity in Benin comes in the context of long-standing insurgencies in adjacent Burkina Faso and Niger, where groups linked to Islamic State and Al Qaeda have gained control over large portions of rural land. These factions often exploit existing ethnic tensions and local political grievances, alongside a lack of effective governance.
The worsening situation has raised alarm among observers regarding the potential spillover of violence into Benin. Earlier this year, the country suffered notable losses, including the deaths of six soldiers in February during an attack by unidentified assailants, to which the military responded with lethal force against 17 attackers. The previous month, 28 soldiers were killed in an incident attributed to the Al Qaeda-linked Group to Support Islam and Muslims (JNIM). Reports indicate that from 2021 to December 2024, a total of 121 Beninese military personnel have lost their lives due to such violence.
In response to the mounting insecurity, Benin launched Operation Mirador in January 2022, deploying nearly 3,000 troops to bolster border security. Additionally, the government has recruited 5,000 more personnel in an effort to strengthen military presence in the northern regions.
Adding to the international security efforts, a bilateral cooperation agreement was recently signed between the United States and Benin, aiming to enhance collaboration between the Beninese Armed Forces and the U.S. Army, as announced by the American embassy.
However, some analysts caution that militarized responses may not effectively address the fundamental political disputes that jihadist groups capitalize on to recruit and justify their actions.
