Jihadist raid on northern Benin army base kills 15 soldiers

Fifteen soldiers were killed after jihadist militants attacked an army base in northern Benin, the country’s military confirmed, as reported by Africanews with AFP on March 6th.

The assault, which occurred on March 4th in Kofouno near the border with Niger, was claimed by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-linked militant group active across the Sahel.

According to Beninese army spokesman Colonel James Johnson, five additional soldiers were wounded in the attack but are expected to recover. A military source deployed in the region described the incident as leaving a “heavy human toll”.

Security forces responded quickly to the raid, launching aerial operations against the retreating militants. Johnson said military aircraft killed at least four attackers as they fled the scene, adding that operations to track down those responsible were still underway.

Reports from the regional security journalists’ network Wamaps said the army base was looted and set on fire during the assault. Authorities have since begun sweeping the surrounding area in search of remaining militants.

The attack highlights growing security concerns across West Africa, where jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have intensified operations in recent years. Countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have experienced escalating violence and political instability following a series of military coups.

Although the insurgency has long been concentrated in the Sahel, militant groups have increasingly expanded into coastal states, including Benin and Togo.

Benin has strengthened its security presence in recent years, launching a 3,000-strong anti-jihadist force in 2022 and recruiting an additional 5,000 soldiers to reinforce its northern border regions. However, the country has suffered several deadly incidents, including an April 2025 attack claimed by JNIM that killed 54 soldiers.

Security analysts believe the militant network is increasingly recruiting members from local communities and expanding its logistical networks along the Gulf of Guinea. A recent study by the conflict monitoring organisation ACLED identified the border area between Benin, Niger, and Nigeria as an emerging hotspot for jihadist activity.

A recent United Nations Security Council report also noted that JNIM has appointed an emir responsible for operations in Benin, underscoring concerns that the group is attempting to establish a stronger foothold in the region.

Africanews with AFP, Maghrebi.org