Benin’s government has revised its death toll to 54 soldiers killed by suspected jihadists in an attack near the border with Burkina Faso and Niger. The country had previously reported eight deaths, making this incident the deadliest known since insurgents began operating in northern Benin a decade ago.
The al-Qaeda-linked group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (Jnim) claimed responsibility for the attack on two military posts. Intelligence reports indicate that Jnim killed 70 soldiers during the raids. The group, based in Mali, has expanded its operations to neighboring countries in recent years.
Several jihadist groups operate in West Africa’s Sahel region, including Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, where governments struggle to contain the insurgency. Benin and Togo have seen a rise in jihadist activity in recent years, with groups linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda spreading southward.
Government officials expressed determination to continue fighting against the jihadists. “Heavy losses for the nation,” said presidential spokesman Serge Nonvignon on Facebook. Another spokesperson, Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji, vowed that Benin would eventually win the fight.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4grjgkxn9vo