Trouble at the border: a Nigerian extremist group has also entered Benin
- Al-Qaida and Islamic State pose a major security threat to West Africa, with Benin situated between the Sahel and Lake Chad conflicts where both groups operate
- This brief notes that in 2025 Benin was attacked by an extremist group from Nigeria, adding to ongoing Al Qaida-linked assaults from the Sahel since 2021
- The Nigerian extremist Mahmuda group was pushed into Benin by Nigerian military operations around Kainji Lake in early 2025
- Activity in Benin has brought Nigerian and Sahelian extremists into the same area, where they have developed a collaborative relationship
- Benin urgently needs help to stabilize its Nigerian border, and West African governments need a stronger cross-border cooperation approach
Violent extremism is the major security challenge for West Africa today. Violence from the Sahel is increasingly affecting coastal states with Benin among the most impacted countries.
This policy brief finds that Benin is not only threatened from the Sahel, but also from Nigeria. Since June 2025, a Nigerian extremist group has established a foothold in two areas in Benin’s Borgou Department, not far away from the country’s second largest capital. Publicly, two incidents of violence are recorded, but this report points to dozens of incidents, both violent and non-violent in nature. An important impetus for the group’s push into Benin seems to have been military operations by the Nigerian government in March and April 2025.
But who is responsible for this activity? Some believe that the Al Qaida linked extremist group – JNIM – has moved further into Benin and even Nigeria based on recent public claims. However, this report finds that most of the activity stems from extremists from Nigeria. It uses the name “Mahmuda” for this group, although it presents evidence that the real name of this group is Darussalam. It also presents some insight into the relationship between Mahmuda and JNIM, which may not be antagonistic in nature.
The immediate policy implication of this research is that Benin needs urgent support in scaling up its activity in the Borgou, including its successful civilian oriented approach. However, the broader implication is that West African governments and their donors must urgently find an effective approach to cross-border security cooperation. Failure to do so will lead to the further spread of violent extremism in West Africa.
