Beninese Special Forces have conducted two significant operations between June 24 and 28, 2025, targeting armed groups entrenched in the northern border regions of the country.
The missions were launched in response to a surge in extremist violence in the departments of Alibori and Parc W.
The first offensive, carried out on June 24 in Alibori, led to the dismantling of a base used by armed militants. Six fighters were neutralized and a cache of weapons seized, according to military officials. The operation concluded without injuries among Beninese troops.
A second operation was launched four days later, targeting a structure under construction near the country’s northern frontier.
Intelligence reports suggest the facility was intended to serve as a staging ground for future attacks.
Several insurgents were neutralized during the raid, and security forces recovered weapons and motorcycles. Once again, no casualties were reported among the soldiers.
These counterterrorism efforts come amid escalating violence in the region. On April 17, 2025, two military outposts in the Koudou Falls area, within the boundaries of Parc W, were attacked.
Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Vincent Honfoga confirmed the assaults and stated that a coordinated air and ground operation had been launched in pursuit of the attackers.
Authorities revealed that at least 54 soldiers had been killed in the area in recent months.
An earlier ambush on January 10 at the “Triple Point”—where Benin’s borders meet those of Niger and Burkina Faso—left 28 Beninese soldiers dead.
The attack was later claimed by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), a known extremist faction operating across the Sahel.
In response to the growing threat, the government of Benin initiated Operation Mirador in January 2022, deploying approximately 3,000 soldiers.
The programme was later expanded with the recruitment of an additional 5,000 troops to bolster defences in high-risk zones.
The recent operations underscore the government’s resolve to combat the spread of violent extremism from neighbouring Sahel countries.
With border areas remaining highly vulnerable, Benin’s military continues to adapt its strategies in a bid to restore security and protect civilian populations.
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