Several soldiers were killed in two attacks on Tuesday in northern Benin, near Burkina Faso, an area where jihadist groups are particularly active, military sources said on Wednesday.

This attack comes two days after the inauguration of Benin's new president, Romuald Wadagni, who promised on Sunday that the state would be "firm in the face of anything that threatens cohesion and security".

"We suffered two violent attacks on the border with Burkina Faso, specifically in Kourou. Our positions were targeted by columns of armed individuals on motorcycles," a senior officer told AFP, refusing to comment on the casualty figures.

"The enemy was routed by the professionalism of the men and I can assure you that they suffered heavy losses," he added.

Another military source deployed in the area acknowledged "having lost men in an attack in the early hours of Tuesday," also mentioning "huge losses inflicted on the enemy."

The attacks were claimed by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), linked to Al-Qaeda, which is very active in northern Benin and in the two neighboring Sahelian countries, Niger and Burkina Faso.

The expansion of jihadists is facilitated by the classified forests and parks of the W-Arly-Pendjari complex, which are suitable terrain for these groups to retreat from the offensives of national armies.

"We will continue to invest in our defense and security forces. And above all, we will also build security by continuing to develop basic social services, offering local economic opportunities and maintaining the effective presence of the State throughout the territory," President Wadagni promised on Sunday during his inauguration.

Security is one of the main challenges for the new head of state, with 2025 being "the deadliest year" for the Beninese army, according to the NGO Acled which records victims of conflict worldwide.

An anti-jihadist force of several thousand soldiers called "Operation Mirador" has been deployed since 2022 to secure the northern part of the country.