Benin diplomat visits Niger to ease tensions and boost regional security

On Tuesday, June 2, Romuald Wadagni, the newly elected president of Bénin, made a brief but significant visit to Niger. This marked his first trip to Niamey since the military takeover in July 2023, signaling a potential easing of tensions between the two neighboring nations. The military regime in Niamey has kept its borders closed with Bénin, accusing it of aligning too closely with Paris and attempting to destabilize Niger.

Upon arrival, President Wadagni was greeted by his counterpart, General Abdourahamane Tiani, leader of Niger’s junta. Following a prior visit to Nigeria the day before, Wadagni’s second stop was Niger, where he aimed to discuss reviving security cooperation. Both countries face persistent threats from jihadist violence, making collaboration essential.

Wadagni departed Niamey in the early afternoon, with his next destination being Burkina Faso.

According to a statement from Bénin’s presidency, this visit reflects the president’s commitment to an active neighborhood diplomacy policy aimed at strengthening ties with all countries sharing borders with Bénin. Signs of thawing relations emerged during Wadagni’s inauguration in Cotonou, where Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine was present.

Earlier this year, Patrice Talon, Wadagni’s predecessor and mentor, was publicly accused by General Tiani of supporting jihadist attacks on Niamey’s airport—a claim Cotonou has consistently denied. Bénin itself has faced escalating jihadist violence in its northern regions, bordering Niger. Conversely, Niamey has been suspected of involvement in a failed coup attempt in Bénin last December, though Cotonou has not explicitly named its neighbor.