Benin's north hit by escalating jihadist violence ahead of presidential poll

Benin's northern regions are increasingly under siege by jihadist aggression, casting a shadow over Sunday's presidential election. The country, long considered a stable hub for investment and tourism under outgoing President Patrice Talon, has seen its army face escalating attacks, making 2025 its deadliest year, military sources confirm. This crisis underscores the deepening regional instability, fueled by tensions with neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger, where military juntas have openly crit