| 2025 Point Triple attack | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Jihadist insurgency in Benin | |
| Location | Point Triple zone, Alibori Department, Benin |
| Date | 8 January 2025 |
| Target | Benin Armed Forces |
Attack type | Shooting, arson |
| Deaths | 28-30 |
| Injured | Unknown |
| Perpetrator | Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin |
On January 8, 2025, Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin forces launched an armed assault on Benin forces in the Point Triple zone in the Alibori Department, near the shared border of Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
Benin, traditionally a peaceful country, has been drawn into the Sahel's security crisis over recent years. [1] Armed groups have expanded operations southward, threatening coastal West African nations. [1] Almost 5 million people were forcibly displaced across the Sahel region as of August 2024, a 25% increase since 2020. [2] This along with JNIM and IS launching high-impact attacks targeting state forces, militias, and civilians with increasing lethality, have prompted Benin to bolster military deployments and collaborate with neighboring states through regional initiatives like The Accra Initiative, which aims to combat terrorism through joint security operations. [3] [4]
On January 8, 2025 the attackers, reportedly affiliated with Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), utilized improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to breach the post's defenses. Following the detonation of the explosives, heavily armed militants engaged in direct combat with the stationed troops. The confrontation lasted several hours and a death toll of 28 soldiers was reported among military personnel. [5] [6] [7]
In response to the attack, the Beninese Armed Forces launched a counter-offensive with ground reinforcements and aerial support. Air force planes were deployed to repel the attackers and secure the area. A subsequent mopping-up operation aimed to assess the extent of the damage and track the assailants who fled the scene. [8] [7]
UAE: The United Arab Emirates strongly condemned the attack on the military site in the Alibori region of Benin. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed its rejection of these criminal acts and expressed condolences to the families of the victims. [9] [10]
ECOWAS: Leaders acknowledge insecurity as the region's most urgent concern, noting terrorists' increasing aggression and use of sophisticated weaponry. [11]
UN: The UN Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel has urged the Security Council to scale up support within regional frameworks to combat the growing strength of terrorist groups [6]