Benin’s New President Visits Niger, Burkina Faso in Bid to Restore Regional Ties

Benin’s President Romuald Wadagni visited Niger and Burkina Faso in a move aimed at easing tensions and restoring cooperation with the Sahel nations. During talks with Niger’s leader Abdourahamane Tchiani, both sides agreed to work towards reopening their closed border and strengthening security cooperation against terrorism. Relations between Benin and Niger had worsened after Niger accused Benin of supporting French interests and harbouring French military bases, claims Benin denies. Despite tensions, both countries continue to share important economic ties, including oil exports and trade routes through Benin’s port of Seme-Kpodji.

Benin’s newly inaugurated President Romuald Wadagni on Tuesday embarked on a diplomatic visit to neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso, signalling a possible thaw in relations between Cotonou and the Sahel nations after months of tension and mistrust.
Relations between Benin and Niger deteriorated after Niger’s military-led government cut security ties with France and accused Benin of hosting French military bases allegedly aimed at destabilising Niger. In response to those accusations, Niger shut its border with Benin, disrupting trade and movement between the neighbouring countries.
During Tuesday’s visit, Niger’s transitional President Abdourahamane Tchiani welcomed Wadagni in Niamey, where both leaders issued a joint statement indicating their willingness to rebuild ties and strengthen bilateral cooperation.
According to the statement, the two presidents expressed commitment to removing all barriers preventing stronger cooperation between their countries, including efforts aimed at reopening the long-shut border.
The discussions between the two leaders were also expected to focus on restoring security cooperation, as both countries continue to battle growing terrorist threats and insecurity in the region.
Niger has in recent years aligned itself more closely with Burkina Faso and Mali under the Alliance of Sahel States, a confederation formed by the three military-led governments. The trio later withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), accusing the regional bloc of failing to provide adequate support in the fight against terrorism.
Benin’s presidency described Wadagni’s trip as part of an active neighbourhood diplomacy strategy intended to strengthen relations with all countries bordering Benin.
After spending several hours in Niger, Wadagni later travelled to Burkina Faso as part of the regional tour. The visit came shortly after his first international trip to Nigeria on Monday.
There had already been early indications of improving relations between Benin and Niger after Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine attended Wadagni’s inauguration ceremony in Cotonou. During the event, Zeine spoke about opening “a new path” in relations between the two countries.
In Niamey on Tuesday, major roads were decorated with the flags of Benin and Niger, while hundreds of residents gathered along the streets to welcome the presidential convoy.
Wadagni, who previously served as Benin’s finance minister and succeeded former president Patrice Talon, won the presidential election with 94 percent of the vote.
Shortly after Wadagni’s election victory, Niger’s Interior Minister Mohamed Toumba stated that Niger expected “goodwill gestures” from the new administration, particularly assurances that Benin was not acting in support of French interests.
Niger has repeatedly accused Benin of hosting French military installations, claims that the Beninese government has consistently denied.
Meanwhile, northern Benin, which shares a border with Niger, has increasingly faced deadly terrorist attacks in recent years, highlighting the need for closer regional security collaboration.
Beyond security concerns, both countries also share major economic interests. The port of Seme-Kpodji in Cotonou serves as one of the most important transit routes for goods entering Niger and for the export of Nigerien raw materials.
Official figures from Niger indicate that before the diplomatic dispute, around 80 percent of the country’s freight passed through the Benin corridor.
Despite the ongoing political tensions, a major pipeline transporting Nigerien oil through Benin has continued operating.
However, the only bridge connecting the two countries across the Niger River remains shut, with heavy security presence still maintained around the area, according to local residents.