Benin: 54 Soldiers Killed in Deadliest Extremist Attack
The attack on April 17, 2025, in northern Benin’s Alibori department killed at least 54 soldiers, marking the deadliest extremist incident in Benin’s history.
The assault targeted military outposts near the tri-border area with Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria, a region known for porous borders exploited by militants.
Reports claimed Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaida-linked group active across the Sahel, claimed responsibility, asserting 70 soldiers were killed.
This group, particularly its Katiba Hanifa faction, has expanded its operations into northern Benin from Burkina Faso and Niger, where jihadist violence has intensified.
Benin, previously more stable than its neighbors, has experienced rising extremist spillover violence.
The government has called for enhanced regional cooperation, emphasizing that stronger security forces on neighboring sides could prevent such attacks.
This attack reflects a broader trend of expanding militant violence into West Africa’s coastal states.
Fatalities linked to jihadist groups near coastal borders have increased despite a slight drop in violent events, signaling growing lethality.
Without coordinated regional responses, the risk of further destabilization in the tri-border area and beyond remains high.
