Benin’s authorities has admitted that 54 troopers have been killed by suspected jihadists within the nation’s north final week close to the borders with Burkina Faso and Niger.
The authorities had beforehand mentioned that solely eight troopers have been killed.
The revised determine makes it the deadliest recognized assault since insurgents started working in northern Benin originally of the last decade.
The assault has been claimed by an al-Qaeda-linked group – Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen, (Jnim), which relies in Mali however has in recent times expanded its operations to neighbouring international locations.
The jihadist group had mentioned it killed 70 troopers in raids on two navy posts within the north, in accordance with intelligence group SITE.
Jnim is considered one of a number of jihadist teams working in West Africa’s Sahel area, particularly Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, the place the navy governments are struggling to comprise the insurgency.
Benin and Togo have seen an increase in jihadist exercise in recent times, as teams linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda unfold to the south.
“Heavy losses for the nation,” wrote presidential spokesman Serge Nonvignon in a Fb publish on Wednesday.
One other authorities spokesperson, Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji, mentioned that Benin was decided to proceed the battle towards the jihadists.
“We can’t give in… I can guarantee you that eventually, eventually, we are going to win,” he mentioned.