Key Points

• Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists kill 70 soldiers in Benin.

• The attack is the deadliest by jihadists in Benin.

• The violence continues to destabilize the Sahel region.

Jihadists from the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate in the Sahel, attacked two military posts in northern Benin.

They killed 70 soldiers, according to Reuters. This marks the deadliest attack in the country by jihadists.

The attack occurred in Kandi province in the Alibori department, located more than 500 kilometers from Benin’s capital, Cotonou.

JNIM claimed responsibility for the assault, according to SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks jihadist activities. The attack comes amid escalating violence in the region.

Al-Qaeda affiliate JNIM intensifies violence in the Sahel

The Sahel region, already plagued by instability, has seen intensified violence from both al-Qaeda affiliates and the Islamic State.

Since 2024, JNIM’s rival, the Islamic State, has also ramped up its operations, reshaping the security landscape of the semi-arid region. JNIM’s operations span across Burkina Faso, Niger, and into Benin and Togo.

Benin’s proximity to these violent hotspots, along with ungoverned protected areas such as Pendjari National Park and Park W, has allowed JNIM to carry out cross-border attacks.

These ungoverned areas provide perfect cover for jihadist groups to move freely and carry out their operations.

The Sahel crisis: A growing humanitarian catastrophe

The ongoing violence has led to a growing humanitarian crisis in the Sahel. In addition to the direct consequences of the violence, the region faces severe climate conditions that further destabilize local communities.

Benin has become a target of JNIM’s trans-border violence, which has also taken a toll on neighboring countries, including Niger and Burkina Faso.

Earlier this year, JNIM members killed 28 Beninese soldiers in an attack in the Point Triple zone, a border region with Burkina Faso and Niger.

However, this recent attack stands out due to its higher death toll and severity. In comparison, neighboring countries like Niger have also faced deadly assaults.

For example, in December 2019, attacks in Niger killed 71 soldiers, with another 91 killed shortly afterward.