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The President of Benin, Romuald Wadagni, is working to rebuild the West African country’s ties with its Sahelian neighbours just days after taking office.
Wadagni travelled to Niger and Burkina Faso on Tuesday as part of efforts to restore diplomatic relations with the two countries.
He reportedly secured a commitment from the military junta in Niger to begin reopening the shared border within days of his visit.
The border had been closed after Niger accused Benin of harbouring “French bases” allegedly used to destabilise the country.
Niger, now governed by a military junta, has distanced itself from its former colonial power, France, following the 2023 coup.
Both countries are also grappling with an escalating insurgency, similar to other states in the Sahel region.
Niger’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bakary Yaou Sangaré, said the two sides discussed the terrorist threat in the Sahel and across West Africa.
“They reaffirmed their commitment to joining forces to combat the scourge of terrorism and banditry that has plagued the sub-region for several years and is undermining the effective implementation of all the development programmes initiated by their respective governments,” he said.
The three junta-led countries in West Africa—Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali—have withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and formed a confederation known as the Alliance of Sahel States.
Wadagni spent several hours in Niamey before travelling to Burkina Faso later the same day, where he met Head of State Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
The Beninese and Nigerien leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening political dialogue and deepening cooperation. Discussions focused on security, counterterrorism, trade, infrastructure, vocational training, and logistics.
