Benin confirms 54 soldiers killed in Al-Qaeda-linked attack

Benin's government has confirmed that 54 soldiers were killed by suspected rebels in the northern part of the country, near the borders with Burkina Faso and Niger.

Initially, authorities reported that only eight soldiers had died, but the updated death toll marks this as the deadliest attack since insurgents began operating in northern Benin in the early 2010s.

The attack, which targeted two military posts, has been claimed by Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a group affiliated with Al-Qaeda. The group, which is based in Mali, has extended its operations into neighboring countries in recent years. JNIM claimed responsibility for the raids and asserted that 70 soldiers were killed, according to the SITE intelligence group.

The Sahel region, particularly Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, has witnessed an intensification of rebel activity. Both Benin and Togo have recently experienced an uptick in such attacks as groups linked to Daesh and Al-Qaeda spread southward.

In response to the tragedy, presidential spokesman Serge Nonvignon expressed the nation's sorrow, calling it a "heavy loss" for the country. Another government representative, Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji, reassured the public that the government remains committed to combating the rebels, declaring, "We won’t give in... I can assure you that sooner or later, we will win."