Seven security forces and five rangers killed in national park in Benin – jihadist violence spreads

COTONOU, Benin – At least seven members of Benin’s security forces and five rangers working for a nonprofit conservation group have been killed in an attack by an armed group in Benin’s militant-overrun W National Park, the conservation group said.

The attack took place on Wednesday this week not far from the Mékrou River in the 10,000 square kilometre park, which borders Burkina Faso and Niger, the organisation African Parks said in a statement on Saturday.

The authorities in Benin have not yet commented on the attack, which is common practice for the government and military.

It is the latest wave of violence as jihadists from the conflict-ridden Sahel region south of the Sahara spread further into West Africa, targeting coastal states such as Benin.

It is unclear which jihadist group carried out the attack in W Park. Militant fighters from the crisis-ridden countries of Burkina Faso and Niger have recently moved into the park, raising fears that they could use the huge nature reserve as a base for infiltrating other West African countries.

The al-Qaeda-linked JNIM group was most active in the Sahel region and most recently in West African coastal states such as Benin and Togo.

Originally thought to be spreading towards coastal states to find better protection, rest, raise funds and gather weapons for further attacks on Sahelian governments, their fighters have now begun attacking communities and security forces as the mood in the region becomes increasingly insurgent.