The newly elected President of the West African country of Benin, Romuald Wadagni, has reached out to the nations of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), comprised of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, to enhance security and economic cooperation. Among the guests of honor at Wadagni’s inauguration on May 24 were the Prime Minister of Niger Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine; Foreign Minister of Mali Abdoulaye Diop; and Foreign Minister of Burkina Faso Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré—all of whom were received by an enthusiastic welcome of the thousands of citizens attending the ceremony.
“To our fellow African nations, and above all to our neighbors in the sub-region whose presence here today brings us great joy, I wish to renew the message of fraternity from the Beninese people,” Wadagni said at his inauguration ceremony.
Speaking after the ceremony, Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine welcomed Wadagni’s message. “I believe this is a new path opening up. The most important thing is to strengthen our ties and ensure that we can work together.”