Benin Niger diplomatic thaw as president wadagni visits Niamey

On Tuesday, June 2, Romuald Wadagni, the newly elected President of Benin, concluded a brief but significant visit to Niger—his first since Niamey’s military leadership took power in July 2023. The encounter signals a potential easing of tensions between the two neighboring nations, strained by closed borders and mutual accusations. Niger’s ruling junta has kept its frontier with Benin shut, alleging that Cotonou aligns too closely with Paris and seeks to undermine Niamey’s authority.

Upon landing in Niamey, President Wadagni was greeted by General Abdourahamane Tiani, Niger’s military leader. Following a prior stop in Nigeria, the Beninese leader focused on re-engaging with General Tiani, with discussions centered on reviving security collaboration amid persistent jihadist threats affecting both countries.

Wadagni departed Niamey early Tuesday afternoon, en route to Burkina Faso. The visit underscores Benin’s commitment to proactive regional diplomacy, as outlined by a statement from the presidency in Cotonou. The thaw in relations was first hinted at during Wadagni’s inauguration in Benin’s capital, where Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine was in attendance.

Earlier this year, President Patrice Talon—Wadagni’s predecessor and mentor—was publicly accused by General Tiani of sponsoring jihadist attacks on Niamey’s airport. Benin has consistently denied these claims. Meanwhile, both nations continue to grapple with deadly jihadist violence along their shared border regions. Suspicions have also surfaced regarding Niger’s alleged role in a failed coup attempt in Benin last December, though Cotonou has refrained from directly implicating its neighbor.