The anti-terrorist prosecutor’s office announced this Thursday evening the death of a 50-year-old Frenchman in a “terrorist attack” in Benin. An investigation for “assassination in connection with a terrorist enterprise” has been opened.
This attack was “perpetrated in the W park located in the north of Benin”, according to the Pnat. The investigations were entrusted to the General Directorate of Internal Security (DGSI).
An ambush that left six dead
On Wednesday, the environmental NGO African Parks announced that five forest guards and a soldier had been killed and ten people injured in an ambush on Tuesday in this cross-border natural park managed by Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger.
It is with deep regret that we share that on February 8th a team of rangers was ambushed in W National Park, Benin. Initial reports tragically indicate several deaths & injuries. We are working closely with the Government to intensify safety in the region https://t.co/sR5LynsE33 pic.twitter.com/FYxwWTcWr1
—African Parks (@AfricanParks) February 9, 2022
“Yesterday (…) a team of rangers was ambushed in Benin’s W National Park. (…) The provisional report shows six dead, including five forest rangers and a soldier from the Armed Forces of Benin (FAB), ten other people being injured, ”she said in a press release.
Border raids
According to African Parks, additional military reinforcements and rangers have been deployed to the area. A recent series of border raids in countries south of the Sahel confirmed suspicions that jihadist groups in the region are seeking to advance towards the coast.
The Beninese army has strengthened its presence in the north of the country after the first two officially recognized jihadist attacks at the end of last year. Last month, two Beninese soldiers were killed when their vehicle fell victim to an improvised bomb attack in the Atakora department in the north of the country.