Benin admits that 54 troopers killed in border assault by Jnim

Benin’s authorities has admitted that 54 troopers had 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 had been killed.

The revised determine makes it the deadliest recognized assault since insurgents started working in northern Benin in the beginning 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 lately expanded its operations to neighbouring nations.

The jihadist group had mentioned it killed 70 troopers in raids on two navy posts within the north, in line with intelligence group SITE.

Jnim is certainly 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 lately, 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 put up on Wednesday.

One other authorities spokesperson, Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji, mentioned that Benin was decided to proceed the struggle towards the jihadists.

“We cannot give in… I can guarantee you that ultimately, ultimately, we’ll win,” he mentioned.