The sources did not give a precise toll for the attacks, carried out near Benin’s border with Burkina Faso on Tuesday and claimed by a group with links to Al Qadeda.

They came only two days after Romuald Wadagni was sworn in as the west African nation’s president vowing to be “firm against all those who threaten our unity and security”.

A senior officer told AFP the attacks were in the Kourou district but refused to give casualty figures. “Our positions were targeted by columns of armed individuals on motorbikes,” the officer said.

The officer added that the attackers had also suffered “heavy losses”.

Another military source in the region also said the military and the attackers had suffered losses.

The attacks were claimed by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), which is linked to Al Qaeda and has been active in Benin and the neighbouring countries of Niger and Burkina Faso.

An anti-jihadist military force has been deployed in the region since 2022 but the fighters hide in the many forests.

Wadagni said at his swearing in that the government would make new investments in security.

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