Niger Bénin tensions: toumba seeks assurances from wadagni

The facts. In a lengthy interview broadcast on Niger’s national television on 21 April, General Mohamed Toumba, Niger’s Interior Minister and senior State official, addressed a wide range of pressing issues, from escalating jihadist attacks in the Tillabéry region to strained relations with neighboring West African nations.

Toumba’s remarks also zeroed in on the deteriorating ties between Niamey and Cotonou, especially as Benin prepares for a leadership transition. Patrice Talon is set to hand over power to Romuald Wadagni on 24 May, and Toumba is already demanding concrete assurances from the incoming administration.

« Patrice Talon is gone, but he wasn’t the real issue. The real issue is Macron, » Toumba asserted. « We maintain that Talon was manipulated by France. (…) He enabled French forces to establish a foothold on Beninese soil and launch attacks against us. That’s the core of the problem, » he explained.

Patrice Talon is gone, but he wasn’t the real issue. The real issue is Macron.

When pressed on what he expects from Wadagni, Toumba called for clear « signs of goodwill », urging Benin to publicly distance itself from French interests and cease facilitating French military presence on its territory to target neighboring countries. « That’s what this is really about, » he emphasized.

Context behind the tensions

The latest remarks from the Nigerien junta leader are far from isolated. Tensions between Benin and Niger have been on the rise since General Abdourahamane Tiani seized power in Niamey on 26 July 2023.

In late January, following an attack on Niamey’s international airport and Base 101—home to Russian Africa Corps troops—Tiani issued a scathing warning. « We remind the sponsors of these mercenaries, including Emmanuel Macron, Patrice Talon, and Alassane Ouattara, that we’ve listened to their bark long enough. They should prepare to hear us roar, » he declared, accusing France, Côte d’Ivoire, and Benin of orchestrating the assault, which was claimed by the Islamic State.

Why this matters now

While Toumba’s warning isn’t new, it carries extra weight as Benin’s presidential transition approaches. Romuald Wadagni, elected with 94% of the vote on 12 April, has signaled a desire to mend fences with Niamey. « I’m convinced we can sit down and discuss. We have no other choice! » he stated in a Jeune Afrique interview on 23 March. « Regional countries share the same challenges—security, poverty, and youth unemployment—and the same goal: shared prosperity. The only way to achieve this is by working together. »

Wadagni also acknowledged that while « security cooperation with Niger and Burkina Faso isn’t where it should be, » the three countries’ chiefs of staff maintain regular dialogue, and relations are expected to improve. Yet Niamey remains skeptical about this optimism.