Terrorists seize Benin’s forests as new strongholds

DDM News

Non-state armed groups have continued to launch violent incursions into Benin Republic’s forest reserves, causing devastation across communities and conservation zones.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve, also known as Pendjari National Park, has come under increasing attacks since 2019.

The park is among five protected areas in Benin and plays a crucial role in biodiversity conservation across West Africa.

Pendjari Park, which covers nearly 4,800 square kilometres, became a World Heritage Site in 2017.

It forms part of a larger network of forested lands known as the W-Arly-Pendjari complex, spanning across Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

While W Park is located in Niger and Arly Park in Burkina Faso, Pendjari lies entirely within Benin’s borders.

The complex borders are porous, allowing for unchecked movements of militants, smugglers, and traffickers.

Terror groups have increasingly turned to these dense forests as hideouts, exploiting the terrain to store weapons, extract natural resources, and escape state forces.

Some areas within these forests have become battlegrounds for what analysts now call “protected jihadism territories.”

Experts warn that militants claiming to be jihadists are turning forested areas into strategic enclaves to evade counterterrorism operations.

Studies carried out on migration patterns in northern Benin show that armed groups are destabilizing communities and forcing people to flee.

Local populations in border areas near Niger, Burkina Faso, Togo, and Nigeria are particularly vulnerable to displacement.

For over two decades, researchers tracking migration trends in West Africa have linked armed group activities to displacement crises.

Conflicts triggered by militant groups also lead to land disputes, depletion of grazing lands, and chaotic resource distribution.

Efforts to protect forest reserves have been undermined by a weak, fragmented management system and ongoing violence.

According to field interviews with local journalists, displaced residents, and experts, forest smuggling and natural resource exploitation have worsened.

The incursion by armed groups has devastated the local economy, especially sectors linked to tourism and conservation.

Forest reserves have become theatres of conflict, with militants targeting animals, park rangers, and even tourists.

Tourism, which once provided income and jobs to local communities, has seen a drastic decline due to fear and insecurity.

The violence took a deadly turn on January 8, 2025, when nearly 30 soldiers were ambushed and killed near Karimama.

The attack occurred in the volatile “Triple Point” zone, where the borders of Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger intersect.

Between 2021 and 2024, more than 120 Beninese soldiers have died in similar attacks within the region.

The forest itself has not been spared, with poachers and militants destroying flora and fauna at alarming rates.

Several jihadist groups operate in the area, including Katiba Ansar-ul Islam, Serma, Sekou Muslimou, and Abou Hanifa.

These groups are believed to function under the broader command of Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), an Al Qaeda affiliate.

Burkina Faso has been a primary base for these jihadist movements since 2018, making cross-border incursions easier.

Some militants have forged alliances with gasoline traffickers, purchasing fuel smuggled from Nigeria at high prices.

The gasoline, known locally as “Kpayo,” is a booming black-market commodity traded openly in parts of Benin.

Despite Operation Mirador, a 2021 counterterrorism campaign involving 3,000 Beninese troops, militants remain firmly entrenched.

Over $120 million has been poured into security efforts since the attacks began, but results remain disappointing.

Militants exploit the lack of coordination between Benin, Niger, and Burkina Faso to maintain control over border zones.

While state authorities claim progress, non-state armed groups have established their own transit routes and supply lines.

The absence of a unified regional security approach makes it easy for these groups to evade arrest and mount fresh attacks.

The 2017 Accra Initiative, which sought to boost regional military cooperation among five West African countries, has faltered.

Some member states, having withdrawn from ECOWAS, have weakened the political will behind the initiative.

Efforts to build a real regional force remain stalled by diplomatic tensions and internal politics.

Benin has since turned to France for military support, seeking stronger defense partnerships against growing threats.

However, relations with neighbouring countries, particularly Burkina Faso, Niger, and Togo, remain fragile and tense.

Togo’s ambiguous stance and possible alliance with the pro-junta Sahel States Coalition only complicate Benin’s position.

The human cost of the crisis is rising, with many forest rangers and eco-guards becoming targets of armed groups.

The African Parks Network (APN), which has managed the park since 2020, now employs over 330 eco-guards.

These eco-guards, including six foreign personnel, play critical roles in intelligence gathering for the Beninese military.

Despite their efforts, threats to life and property continue to rise, while foreign partners reassess their involvement.

International and local NGOs that previously supported local populations have scaled back or suspended their activities.

Transport services, hospitality businesses, and trekking firms in towns near the park have all seen massive downturns.

In Tanguiéta, a town near Pendjari and 70 km from the Burkina Faso border, economic activity has collapsed.

Many migrants who previously worked in the area’s tourism sector have left or switched to less profitable ventures.

Restaurants, hotels, and artisan shops that once thrived on park tourism now struggle to survive.

Local residents, once employed as tour guides or drivers, face increasing poverty and displacement.

Job losses continue to mount, and incomes have dropped sharply due to the collapse of tourism.

Recommendations from experts highlight the urgent need to improve surveillance and cross-border coordination.

More investment is needed in helicopters, drones, and surveillance aircraft to monitor the vast forest terrain.

Training military personnel in environmental protection and conservation practices is also essential.

Community-based development projects could reduce dependence on tourism and improve local resilience.

Diversifying livelihoods and empowering local groups may also help isolate militants and disrupt their logistics networks.

Analysts argue that only a regional strategy, backed by consistent funding and coordination, can defeat this rising threat.

Benin’s forest reserves are now not just ecological treasures, they are battle zones in the war against jihadist expansion.

Until cooperation between neighbouring countries improves, militants will continue to exploit the region’s vulnerabilities.

The future of protected areas like Pendjari depends on bold, unified action across borders.

For now, the forests of Benin remain under siege, and the fate of countless communities hangs in the balance.

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