Attacks in Benin: the death toll rises to 9 dead including a Frenchman, the anti-terrorist prosecution opens an investigation


Paris announced the opening of an investigation into the death of a French national, aged 50, among the victims of this “terrorist attack”. The French part of the investigation was entrusted to the General Directorate of Internal Security (DGSI).

Deadliest attacks in Benin

These are the deadliest attacks ever recorded by Benin, considered an island of stability in West Africa. “The portion of land called “Triple Point”, border area between the three countries (Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger), “has recently been considered critical because of the terrorist actions observed”, explains the secretary general of the government, Edouard Ouin-Ouro.

Left to flush out poachers on Tuesday “a patrol of African Parks Network (APN) rangers came across an explosive device as well as a second patrol in the same circumstances”. These two attacks resulted in “a total of eight dead (an APN civilian agent, 5 forest rangers as well as their French instructor, an agent of the Beninese Armed Forces) and 12 injured”. A reconnaissance patrol then “suffered the same fate” on Thursday, “causing a new civilian victim, APN agent, and thus bringing the number of explosive devices by artisanal mines to 3”.

These attacks have not been claimed but a jihadist insurgency originating in the Sahel has spread to parts of West Africa, including neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso.



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