Source : Sahel weather June 2025

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In the north of the country, the terrorist threat is clearly on the rise. Since the beginning of the year, the jihadist incursion has shown an unprecedented regularity, characterized in particular by a tactic of continuous harassment of the Beninese army forces. The first half of June saw two notable new attacks. Firstly, on June 4, an assault was launched on a police station in the village of Tanougou (Tanguiéta commune), during which three soldiers and two policemen were killed, according to a military source. On the other hand, on the night of June 11, the military base in the Basso district (Kalalé commune) was the target of an attack quickly claimed by the JNIM (Groupe de soutien à l'islam et aux musulmans).

Faced with this setback, Benin immediately launched a vigorous response. On the night of June 18-19, the Beninese armed forces (FAB) carried out a vast operation involving troops and helicopters in Park W. On June 24, a new large-scale operation in the Alibori department led, according to the FAB, to the dismantling of a terrorist base. Six terrorists were neutralized and a large military arsenal was seized after this special operation. Then on June 28, 2025, a new counter-offensive was carried out, resulting in the elimination of several terrorists and the seizure of large quantities of weapons and motorcycles, according to the Beninese army. This muscular counter-offensive sheds light on the immense challenges facing a country beset by security pressures which, for the time being, do not seem to be succeeding in reversing the curve of the growing threat. Earlier this month, the Chief of General Staff announced the appointment of Colonel André Dokoui Fofo as the new head of Operation Mirador.

Friction within the presidential camp?

During a visit to the town of Parakou on June 21, the Minister of Energy, Water and Mines, Paulin Akponna, made a controversial statement, to say the least. Pointing to a mismanagement of public funds involving the embezzlement of several billion CFA francs earmarked for water and electricity projects in the Borgou region, the Minister spoke of "siphoning off the national budget" by "delinquents of the Republic" and "crooked politicians". President Patrice Talon subsequently dismissed him by decree on June 26.

Government spokesman Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji explained: "If the remarks he made do not fall within the logic of a political leadership war, given their seriousness, Mr. Akponna must be released from any obligation of reserve or government solidarity to provide any useful information to the justice system". Following a summons served on him on June 27, Paulin Akponna will appear in court on July 16, following a defamation complaint lodged by his predecessor, Samou Seidou Adambi. In addition, his party, Le Bloc Républicain (a party close to the ruling class), has disassociated itself from his comrade Mr. Akponna, expressing "its total disapproval of this form of communication"

with "remarks that do not reflect any republican spirit" . In a subsequent press release, the now ex-minister acknowledged "the seriousness of these remarks" , pleading a "grave political error" . With the 2026 elections approaching, for which the opposition is busy negotiating, will this episode throw a spanner in the works? For the time being, one thing is certain: President Talon will not be seeking another term in office, as he reiterated on June 13 at a high-level seminar on local governance.