A militant assault on a military post has resulted in the deaths of six soldiers in northern Benin, where government forces are working to address cross-border attacks from armed Islamist groups, according to a military spokesperson.
The confrontation on Saturday also resulted in the death of 17 militants; spokesperson Ebenezer Honfoga informed Reuters on Sunday without providing additional information.
This comes in the wake of the killing of numerous soldiers during a January attack in the northern department of Alibori, which borders Niger and Burkina Faso, areas known for ongoing insurgencies.
In recent years, both Benin and its coastal neighbour Togo have experienced attacks as groups affiliated with Islamic State and al Qaeda have extended their influence beyond the central Sahel region of West Africa to the north.
