Clashes between armed groups and the military in northern Benin have resulted in ten deaths, including one soldier.
While Cotonou, the country’s economic capital, remains a tourist destination, northern Benin has faced increasing attacks linked to insurgent groups from Burkina Faso and Niger.
Overnight Thursday, the army launched an operation that killed nine suspected terrorists after an explosion in nearby Kantoro killed one soldier.
The operation in Karimama, near the Niger border, followed a rise in violence in this region. A military officer revealed that air and ground operations destroyed a key logistics hub used by the attackers.
Islamist insurgencies in neighboring countries have fueled attacks in northern Benin, raising fears of further violence.
In February, six soldiers were killed by gunmen, and 17 assailants were killed in retaliation. The previous month, 28 soldiers died in an attack claimed by Al-Qaeda-linked JNIM.
Since 2021, 121 Beninese soldiers have died in these attacks. In response, Benin deployed 3,000 troops and recruited 5,000 additional personnel for border security.
On Thursday, the U.S. and Benin signed a defense agreement to strengthen military collaboration. However, experts warn that military responses alone may not resolve the political tensions fueling extremism.