“Military authorities cut ties with traditional Western allies such as France and the US after the coups and turned to Russia to help in fighting jihadist activity.”
And it looks as if the Russians are really helping.
“Al-Qaeda affiliate claims deadly attack on Benin military posts, killing 70 soldiers,” Reuters, April 20, 2025 (thanks to The Religion of Peace):
COTONOU, April 20 — Al-Qaeda affiliate JNIM said it killed 70 soldiers in raids on two military posts in north Benin, the biggest death count claimed by jihadists in the country in over a decade of activity in West Africa, the SITE Intelligence Group said yesterday.
The West African state and its coastal neighbour Togo have suffered a series of attacks in recent years as groups linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda have expanded their presence beyond the Sahel region to the north….
SITE quoted a statement by Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) on Thursday saying 70 soldiers were killed in attacks on two military posts in Benin’s northeastern Kandi province in the Alibori department, more than 500 km (300 miles) from the capital Cotonou….
The Sahel insurgency took root after a Tuareg rebellion in north Mali in 2012 and spread into neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger before reaching the north of coastal West African countries such as Benin more recently.
Thousands have been killed and millions displaced by the conflict, which contributed to spurring five military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger between 2020 and 2023.
Military authorities cut ties with traditional Western allies such as France and the US after the coups and turned to Russia to help in fighting jihadist activity.
PacosMojo says
Don’t care. Not our problem.
JS says
These Islamic terror groups are causing trouble (and death) all over the world. Yes, they’re emboldened but they must be stopped.
OLD GUY says
America, Russia, China and the E.U. need to agree on one thing. Islamic terrorism is NOT good for any of the so called super powers.
Stoping the turmoil across the world caused by muslim/islamic terrorism should be a priority for all of our countries. None of these super powers have anything to gain by Iran having nuclear weapons. Its time to stop the childish games and recognize the danger Iran presents to all of us.