The French Embassy in Benin has strongly condemned the terrorist attacks that occurred on April 17, 2025, near the border with Burkina Faso, resulting in the deaths of 54 Beninese soldiers.
In an official statement, the diplomatic mission praised the courage of the fallen soldiers and extended its condolences to their families and the entire nation of Benin.
“The French Embassy in Benin strongly condemns the terrorist attacks against military posts on April 17, 2025, at the border with Burkina Faso, which claimed the lives of 54 Beninese soldiers. It bows before the courage and sacrifice of the soldiers who died for their country,” the embassy’s statement read.
The French Embassy reiterated its full solidarity with the people of Benin in their fight against terrorism, offering its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and the nation.
Meanwhile, Beninese authorities are holding a series of consultations to assess the security situation. President Patrice Talon, according to government spokesperson Wilfried Léandre Houngbedji, met with the High Command of the military to review current strategies and address the logistical needs expressed by forces on the ground.
“The Head of State examined all aspects, including additional requests made by the armed forces,” the spokesperson said during the Council of Ministers’ press briefing on April 23, 2025. These discussions, he added, helped strengthen both the counterattack and deterrence measures.
On the ground, despite the brutality of the twin attacks, the Beninese Defense and Security Forces managed to inflict heavy losses on the assailants. Thirty-three enemy fighters were neutralized, demonstrating the national troops’ responsiveness and the effectiveness of the existing defense systems.
“The enemy has not succeeded in establishing a foothold on our territory. This shows that our efforts are ongoing and yielding results,” emphasized Wilfried Léandre Houngbedji, urging collective vigilance and resilience.
“At some point, we will prevail,” he added, expressing a tone of national hope in the face of the terrorist threat in Benin.