The government of Benin has introduced a curfew in seven communes in the departments of Alibori and Atacora in the north of the country. This was announced by the Minister of Decentralisation and Local Governance, Raphaël Akotègnon, in a radio message to the prefects of the concerned departments. The initiative aims to protect the population from the increasing number of terrorist attacks in the northern part of the country.
The Minister of Decentralisation and Local Governance, Raphaël Akotègnon, announced on Friday 10 March 2023 that a curfew has been imposed in seven Communes in northern Benin. These are the communes of Banikoara, Karimama, Sègbana, Matéri Cobly, Kérou, Tanguiéta and the villages located near the Penjari and W parks as well as the border areas of the Alibori and Atacora departments. From now on, motorbikes and pedestrians will not be allowed in these areas between 7 pm and 6 am. These measures follow the decision of the inter-ministerial meeting on the review of security issues held on Tuesday 7 March 2023.
Consequently, Minister Raphaël Akotègnon invited the prefects of the two departments to join forces with the mayors of the communes concerned to make the necessary arrangements for the wide dissemination of these measures. It also recommends awareness-raising sessions for the population on the risks of insecurity between 7pm and 6am.
Since December 2021, Benin has been facing sporadic attacks in the northern part of the country, which have already caused several deaths in the army. These armed terrorist groups from neighbouring countries like Niger and Burkina Faso use various methods to achieve their goals. But the government of Benin has responded by militarising the region in an attempt to flush out jihadist cells.
