kidnapped and their local guide

Benin is the most exposed coastal state to jihadist violence, described by several experts as the region’s “soft underbelly” (ventre mou). The threat first became apparent in 2019, when two tourists were kidnapped and their local guide killed in Pendjari National Park. Since 2021, attacks have intensified, with ACLED recording 155 in 2024, targeting not only state forces, but also park rangers and civilians. The country’s geographic location makes it a key corridor for JNIM and other non-state armed groups’ trafficking networks, especially those operating out of neighbouring Nigeria. Poor infrastructure—WAP has only few main roads and tracks, and spans remote, rugged terrain—gives insurgents free rein to move undetected through the terrain หนังใหม่2025