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In a recent deadly raid on an army base in northern Benin, Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists from the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) claimed responsibility for killing 15 soldiers, the country’s military confirmed on Thursday. The attack took place on Wednesday at the Kofouno base, located near Benin’s border with Niger.
JNIM, Al-Qaeda’s branch in the Sahel region, has been ramping up attacks across West Africa, with countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger bearing the brunt of these violent assaults.
These nations have experienced military coups and widespread instability, creating fertile ground for insurgent groups. In recent years, this violence has spilt into northern Benin and Togo.
According to Colonel James Johnson, a spokesman for the Beninese army, the raid also resulted in five soldiers being wounded, though their injuries are not life-threatening. He added that military aircraft had retaliated, killing at least four of the attackers as they fled. “The hunt continues,” he said, emphasising that efforts to capture the perpetrators are ongoing.
A military source on the ground described the attack as leaving a “heavy human toll,” and confirmed that a sweeping operation was underway. The regional security journalists’ group Wamaps reported that the base had been “pillaged and torched,” highlighting the severity of the assault.
This attack comes less than a year after another deadly strike by JNIM in April 2025, which resulted in the deaths of 54 soldiers. The country has been working to reinforce its military presence, launching a 3,000-troop anti-terrorist force in 2022, followed by the recruitment of an additional 5,000 soldiers.
Experts warn that JNIM’s influence is spreading into new territories, particularly the border regions of Benin, Niger, and Nigeria. The group’s blend of religious proselytising and strategic attacks has raised concerns, although they have yet to establish control over large territories.
Recently, the UN Security Council reported that JNIM had appointed an emir for Benin, further intensifying fears over the group’s growing foothold in the region.
The continuing violence poses a significant challenge to Benin’s security forces, as the country gears up for a presidential election next month. The expanding reach of terrorist groups in the region raises questions about the stability of the Gulf of Guinea and the broader Sahel area.
