Benin’s military has suffered significant casualties in a deadly attack near its northern border with Niger and Burkina Faso, regions plagued by insurgent activity.
Colonel Faizou Gomina, the national guard’s chief of staff, described the assault on Wednesday evening as a severe blow, targeting one of the country’s most well-equipped military positions in the Alibori region.
“We’ve been dealt a very hard blow,” Col. Gomina stated, urging military commanders to rethink operational strategies to address escalating security threats.
While the official death toll remains unconfirmed, opposition party The Democrats claims around 30 soldiers were killed. A security source corroborated a similar figure, putting the toll at 28, according to AFP.
In response, military forces have launched a clean-up operation, reportedly neutralizing 40 assailants so far.
Though no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, Benin has faced a growing number of assaults in its northern region, often attributed to jihadist groups operating from neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso.
Between 2021 and December 2024, over 120 Beninese soldiers have been killed in similar attacks, a diplomatic source revealed.
The latest incident follows another deadly attack last month, when gunmen killed three soldiers and wounded four others guarding an oil pipeline in the north-east.
Col. Gomina emphasized the strategic importance of the targeted position, labeling it “one of the strongest and most militarized.” Addressing the military, he called for decisive action: “Wake up, officers and section chiefs, we have battles to win.”
In 2022, Benin deployed nearly 3,000 troops to its northern border to combat cross-border incursions and reinforce security. Despite these efforts, the rising insurgency continues to challenge the country’s stability.
