15 Soldiers Killed in Jihadist Attack on Military Base in Northern Benin

At least 15 soldiers were killed when suspected jihadist militants attacked a military base in northern Benin, the country’s armed forces said on Thursday.

The assault occurred on Wednesday at an army post in Kofouno, near the border with Niger. The Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), a regional affiliate of Al-Qaeda operating across the Sahel, claimed responsibility for the raid.

Military spokesperson Colonel James Johnson said five other soldiers were wounded in the attack, but noted that their injuries were not life-threatening.

According to the spokesman, military aircraft targeted the militants as they retreated from the base, killing at least four of the attackers. “The search operation is ongoing,” he added, indicating that security forces were continuing efforts to track down the assailants.

A security source deployed in the area earlier described the incident as having caused a “heavy human toll,” while troops conducted clearance operations in the surrounding region.

The regional security monitoring network WAMAPS also reported that the military base was looted and set on fire during the assault.

Northern Benin has in recent years experienced growing militant activity as violence linked to armed Islamist groups spreads south from the Sahel.

The attack comes as Benin prepares for a presidential election scheduled for next month.

Security forces in the country have suffered significant losses in recent years, including an attack in April 2025 attributed to JNIM that killed more than 50 soldiers.