Benin’s government has confirmed that 54 soldiers were killed in a jihadist attack last week in the country’s north, near the borders with Burkina Faso and Niger. The initial toll was put at eight, making this revised figure the deadliest attack since insurgents began operating in the region.
The assault has been claimed by al-Qaeda-linked group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen, which is based in Mali but has extended its reach into neighbouring countries.
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A presidential spokesman described the losses as “heavy for the nation”, while another government official said Benin remains committed to fighting the insurgency.
The attack underscores the growing threat of jihadist violence spreading south from the Sahel, affecting previously stable coastal nations like Benin and Togo.
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