🔴 Suspected Jihadist Attack in Northwestern Benin Leaves Five Security Agents Dead

NewspotngJune 6, 2025Read original

📍Tanougou, Benin –A fresh wave of jihadist violence has struck northwestern

, claiming the lives of

in a brazen nighttime assault on a police station in

, a town bordering the Pendjari National Park.

The

, which occurred near one of Benin’s iconic tourist destinations, adds to growing fears about the spread of extremist violence into West African coastal states. Local sources confirmed the incident, while a military official told AFP that “defence and security forces are continuing to search the area.”

Tanougou, known for its lush landscapes and forest waterfall, is located near the troubled tri-border region shared with

and

, both of which have experienced intensifying jihadist campaigns in recent years.

The attack follows a

on Beninese troops in the nearby

, where

and

, in operations claimed by

, a group affiliated with

.

Benin’s government blames these incursions on

from neighboring military-led regimes in

,

, and

—countries that have since formed the

after breaking ties with

and distancing themselves from Western partners.

With

with coastal states like Benin and Côte d’Ivoire, counterterrorism collaboration has severely deteriorated, leaving border communities increasingly vulnerable.

“This attack adds to our fears,” said a local tour guide who requested anonymity. “Tourism is our livelihood, and now even this symbol of peace has been hit.”

Beninese President

recently lamented the

with Niger and Burkina Faso, warning that the absence of regional security collaboration was enabling jihadist infiltration.

Tensions remain high between Benin and Niger, with

, a charge the Talon administration denies.

As Benin grapples with security threats on its northern front and economic fallout for communities dependent on tourism, the government faces a critical challenge: