Bénin and Niger edge closer to border reopening talks
Béninois and Nigerien expert committees convened in Cotonou to explore pathways for reopening their shared border. This gathering follows President Romuald Wadagni’s recent visit to Niamey on June 2, a milestone in the ongoing effort to restore bilateral relations between the two nations.
The June 20 meeting, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cotonou, was co-chaired by Niger’s Minister of State for Security, General Mohamed Toumba, and Bénin’s Minister of African Integration, Adjadi Bakari. Discussions centered on security, defense, diplomatic protocols, legal frameworks, and economic cooperation. The closed-door session resumed on Sunday, June 21.
While the eventual reopening of the Bénin-Niger border is anticipated, pending agreements must still be finalized concerning defense protocols, security arrangements, and customs procedures.