Reféns do extremismo violento: raptos no norte do Benim

The report analyzes the surge of kidnappings in northern Benin since 2021, identifying them as a strategic instrument used by violent extremist organisations (VEOs) like JNIM to infiltrate new territories. It distinguishes between VEO-led kidnappings—used for forced recruitment, intelligence gathering, punishment, and intimidation—and criminal kidnappings for ransom, which are more common in southern regions and linked to actors in Nigeria. The document highlights the role of national parks as hideouts and hubs for illicit economies, and recommends protection programs for defectors, amnesty, and improved local infrastructure to enhance community resilience.

• Kidnappings in northern Benin increased drastically in 2023, with 75 incidents recorded by November, more than triple the number from 2022.
• The Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) is the primary armed group operating in the northernmost regions of Benin, while the Islamic State in the Sahel (IS Sahel) has a more limited presence, mainly along the border with Niger in the communes of Malanville and Karimama.
• VEOs use kidnapping as a strategic tool for territorial expansion, categorised into four main types: forced recruitment, intelligence gathering, punishment, and intimidation.
• National parks, specifically Pendjari and W, serve as critical entry points, rear bases, and hideouts for VEOs and their hostages due to irregular state governance and the presence of illicit economies.
• Forced recruitment often targets young males and is sometimes opportunistic, occurring when individuals accidentally encounter VEO members in national parks and are abducted to prevent them from reporting the group's presence.
• VEOs use kidnapping as punishment for those who collaborate with state security forces or violate agreements, including defectors and those who stop providing logistical support.
• Kidnappings of influential community leaders, such as village chiefs and imams, increased after July 2022, coinciding with a reinforced military presence and new state regulations for registering residents.
• Kidnappings for ransom in northern Benin are relatively rare compared to strategic kidnappings, accounting for only 13% of the 101 recorded incidents.
• Criminal kidnappings for ransom are a distinct phenomenon from VEO activity, primarily occurring further south in Borgou and the Plateau, and are strongly linked to actors based in Nigeria, often using the Kainji National Park as a meeting point.

APA

Berger, F., Tagziria, L., & Mossi, A. (2024). Reféns do extremismo violento: raptos no norte do Benim. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/pages/1733386996901-OCWAR-T-pb15-por.pdf

Chicago

Berger, Flore, Lyes Tagziria, and Aziz Mossi. Reféns do extremismo violento: raptos no norte do Benim. Institute for Security Studies, 2024. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/pages/1733386996901-OCWAR-T-pb15-por.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Berger |first1=Flore |last2=Tagziria |first2=Lyes |last3=Mossi |first3=Aziz |title=Reféns do extremismo violento: raptos no norte do Benim |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=February 2024 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/pages/1733386996901-OCWAR-T-pb15-por.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{berger2024refns, author = {Berger, Flore and Tagziria, Lyes and Mossi, Aziz}, title = {{Reféns do extremismo violento: raptos no norte do Benim}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2024}, month = feb, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/pages/1733386996901-OCWAR-T-pb15-por.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }