Since 2021, the government of Benin has been battling a violent jihadist insurgency in the north of the country, fueled by a complex mix of political marginalization, religious ideology and long-simmering intercommunal conflicts. Unfortunately, in doing so, it is repeating the same tragic mistakes made over the past decade by its West African neighbors, Mali and Burkina Faso. For years, the U.S. military has been involved in training and supporting the fight against jihadist insurgencies in the Sahel, particularly in neighboring Niger. As part of that effort, it has also been supporting littoral West African countries that neighbor the Sahel, including Benin, in their fight against the spreading jihadist violence. But while the U.S. military speaks of “engaging border communities,” Benin’s military is carrying out mass arrests in them.

Source: The North Africa Journal June 16, 2023 13:02 UTC