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The government of Benin has confirmed the deaths of 54 soldiers in a recent assault attributed to suspected jihadists in the northern part of the country, close to its borders with Burkina Faso and Niger.
Initially, officials reported that only eight soldiers had lost their lives in this incident.
The updated casualty figure marks this as the most lethal known assault since jihadist activities became prevalent in northern Benin over the past few years.
An al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (Jnim), has claimed responsibility for the attack. This group, which is primarily based in Mali, has increasingly extended its operational reach into neighboring regions.
Jnim reportedly stated that their actions resulted in the deaths of 70 soldiers during coordinated strikes on two separate military posts, as per insights from the intelligence monitoring organization SITE.
Within the Sahel region of West Africa, particularly in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, several jihadist factions are active, posing ongoing challenges for military authorities striving to manage the escalating violence.
In recent years, both Benin and Togo have experienced an uptick in jihadist activities, with groups associated with both the Islamic State and al-Qaeda making inroads into these areas.
Commenting on the tragic loss, presidential spokesperson Serge Nonvignon conveyed the sentiment of “heavy losses for the nation” through a post on Facebook this past Wednesday.
Another official, Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to combating jihadist threats. “We will not waver… I can assure you that eventually, we will prevail,” he stated emphatically.
Source
www.bbc.com