Benin’s new president visited neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso on Tuesday, in a significant move signalling easing tensions between the coastal nation and its military-ruled neighbours.Niger’s junta, which seized power in a July 2023 coup and subsequently severed ties with longtime ally France, closed its border with Benin after accusing it of hosting French military bases aimed at destabilising the country.
Following their meeting on Tuesday, Niger’s junta leader General Abdourahamane Tiani and Benin’s President Romuald Wadagni, who was sworn in on May 24, issued a joint statement signalling a thaw in relations between the two neighbours.
The leaders pledged to remove all obstacles to stronger bilateral cooperation, with particular emphasis on reopening the border. They also committed to joining forces in the fight against terrorism and banditry that have plagued the subregion for years.
Both countries are confronting jihadist violence. Niger has formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) confederation alongside fellow junta-led governments in Burkina Faso and Mali. The three nations withdrew from the West African bloc ECOWAS, accusing it of serving the interests of former colonial power France and the West, while failing to support their counter-terrorism efforts.
Wadagni’s trip forms part of what his office described as “active neighbourhood diplomacy” aimed at strengthening ties with all countries bordering Benin. After spending several hours in Niger, he travelled to Burkina Faso, where he held talks with junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
The two presidents reaffirmed their commitment to deeper partnership and stressed the urgent need to enhance cooperation against terrorism, cross-border crime, and violent extremism.
In an early sign of improving ties, Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine attended Wadagni’s inauguration and spoke of charting “a new path” between the two countries.
Main roads in Niamey were adorned with the flags of both countries on Tuesday as hundreds of people lined the streets to welcome the Benin presidential convoy.
The visit comes shortly after former Finance Minister Olivier Wadagni, Patrice Talon’s chosen successor, won Benin’s presidential election with an overwhelming 94% of the vote.
Just days after the election, Niger’s Interior Minister Mohamed Toumba called on the new Beninese leader to make clear “goodwill gestures,” urging Benin to publicly state that it is not advancing French interests or allowing its territory to be used to attack its neighbours.
Niger has repeatedly accused Benin of hosting French military bases allegedly used to train jihadists. Former President Patrice Talon was even named by Niger’s junta leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, as one of the “sponsors” of the jihadist attack on Niamey airport in January. Both Benin and France have strongly denied these allegations. In recent years, northern Benin has itself faced a surge in deadly jihadist attacks.
Political analyst Odilon Koukoubou in Cotonou believes the visit could help ease tensions between Benin and the Sahelian AES states (Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali).
“It felt as though the military leaders of the AES resented Patrice Talon more than they resented Benin itself. His departure has created a window of opportunity that needed to be seized quickly,” he told AFP.
Beyond politics, the two countries share important economic ties. The port of Seme-Kpodji in Cotonou serves as the main gateway for Niger’s imports and exports. Before the current dispute, 80% of Niger’s freight passed through this route, according to Nigerien authorities. A major oil export pipeline from Niger through Benin has continued to operate. However, the only bridge linking the two countries across the Niger River remains closed under heavy security.
