Latest news with #Jama'atNusratal-IslamwalMuslimeen
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Islamic militants kill at least 54 soldiers in northern Benin, government says
Islamic militants killed at least 54 soldiers in northern Benin last week, the country's government has said. The attack took place in the west African nation's north-eastern Alibori department, which borders Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria. Benin's government originally said eight soldiers had died in last Thursday's attack, but significantly revised the death toll up on Wednesday. Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), a Mali-based terrorist group linked to Al-Qaeda, said it was behind the killings. It claimed that it had killed 70 soldiers, according to the SITE Intelligence Group. Benin has seen terrorist activity increase in recent years, with extremist groups that operate in the Sahel region launching more cross-border attacks. Related What should Europe do as Russia gains influence in Africa's Sahel? The W-Arly-Pendjari Complex, a border area between Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger, is particularly affected by this violence. Speaking about the latest attack, Benin government spokesperson Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji said that neighbouring countries need to do more to combat the threat posed by jihadists. "The points where these attacks of 17 April took place are on the border, so you can understand that if, on the other side of the border, there was a force like ours, these attacks would not take place in this way or would not even occur," he said. "The soldiers who have fallen are our children, our parents, our friends." JNIM also claimed responsibility for an attack in early January that left 28 Beninese soldiers dead.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Benin admits that 54 soldiers killed in attack by al-Qaeda group
Benin's government has admitted that 54 soldiers were killed by suspected jihadists in the country's north last week near the borders with Burkina Faso and Niger. The authorities had previously said that only eight soldiers were killed. The revised figure makes it the deadliest known attack since insurgents began operating in northern Benin at the beginning of the decade. The attack has been claimed by an al-Qaeda-linked group - Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen, (Jnim), which is based in Mali but has in recent years expanded its operations to neighbouring countries. The jihadist group had said it killed 70 soldiers in raids on two military posts in the north, according to intelligence group SITE. Jnim is one of several jihadist groups operating in West Africa's Sahel region, especially Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, where the military governments are struggling to contain the insurgency. Benin and Togo have seen a rise in jihadist activity in recent years, as groups linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda spread to the south. "Heavy losses for the nation," wrote presidential spokesman Serge Nonvignon in a Facebook post on Wednesday. Another government spokesperson, Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji, said that Benin was determined to continue the fight against the jihadists. "We won't give in... I can assure you that sooner or later, sooner or later, we will win," he said. Africa's Sahel becomes latest al-Qaeda-IS battleground The region with more 'terror deaths' than rest of world combined Is Africa overtaking the Middle East as the new jihadist battleground? Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Benin admits that 54 soldiers killed in attack by al-Qaeda group
Benin's government has admitted that 54 soldiers were killed by suspected jihadists in the country's north last week near the borders with Burkina Faso and Niger. The authorities had previously said that only eight soldiers were killed. The revised figure makes it the deadliest known attack since insurgents began operating in northern Benin at the beginning of the decade. The attack has been claimed by an al-Qaeda-linked group - Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen, (Jnim), which is based in Mali but has in recent years expanded its operations to neighbouring countries. The jihadist group had said it killed 70 soldiers in raids on two military posts in the north, according to intelligence group SITE. Jnim is one of several jihadist groups operating in West Africa's Sahel region, especially Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, where the military governments are struggling to contain the insurgency. Benin and Togo have seen a rise in jihadist activity in recent years, as groups linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda spread to the south. "Heavy losses for the nation," wrote presidential spokesman Serge Nonvignon in a Facebook post on Wednesday. Another government spokesperson, Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji, said that Benin was determined to continue the fight against the jihadists. "We won't give in... I can assure you that sooner or later, sooner or later, we will win," he said. Africa's Sahel becomes latest al-Qaeda-IS battleground The region with more 'terror deaths' than rest of world combined Is Africa overtaking the Middle East as the new jihadist battleground? Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Benin admits that 54 soldiers killed in border attack by Jnim
Benin's government has admitted that 54 soldiers were killed by suspected jihadists in the country's north last week near the borders with Burkina Faso and Niger. The authorities had previously said that only eight soldiers were killed. The revised figure makes it the deadliest known attack since insurgents began operating in northern Benin at the beginning of the decade. The attack has been claimed by an al-Qaeda-linked group - Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen, (Jnim), which is based in Mali but has in recent years expanded its operations to neighbouring countries. The jihadist group had said it killed 70 soldiers in raids on two military posts in the north, according to intelligence group is one of several jihadist groups operating in West Africa's Sahel region, especially Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, where the military governments are struggling to contain the and Togo have seen a rise in jihadist activity in recent years, as groups linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda spread to the south."Heavy losses for the nation," wrote presidential spokesman Serge Nonvignon in a Facebook post on government spokesperson, Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji, said that Benin was determined to continue the fight against the jihadists."We won't give in... I can assure you that sooner or later, sooner or later, we will win," he said. More about the Islamist insurgency in West Africa: Africa's Sahel becomes latest al-Qaeda-IS battlegroundThe region with more 'terror deaths' than rest of world combinedIs Africa overtaking the Middle East as the new jihadist battleground? Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
