The new President of Benin, Romuald Wadagni, made visits to both Niger and Burkina Faso as he continues to reach out to the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to enhance economic, political, and security cooperation. These trips are his second and third foreign visits since his inauguration on May 27, where he announced his determination to improve relations with the AES.
The trip follows his visit to Nigeria on June 1. The visits are a dramatic reversal of the previous president’s policy of breaking off ties in 2023 in line with a decision by the Economic Community of West African States to slap sanctions and a trade embargo on the three states after military takeovers of the countries. That policy has now collapsed.
On June 2, President Wadagni arrived in Niamey, the capital of Niger, where he was greeted by Niger’s President Abdourahamane Tiani. Subsequent discussion at the airport focused on relaunching security cooperation in the fight against jihadist violence. Significantly, it was agreed to launch a fast-track process to reopen the border between the two countries, since Benin is a key gateway country for landlocked Niger’s access to the Atlantic.
From Niamey, Wadagni flew later in the day to Burkina Faso, where he was greeted by Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traore at the national airport in Ouagadougou. As in Niger, discussions focused particularly on security cooperation since both countries are threatened by jihadist terrorists.
Significantly, it was agreed to establish an experts committee to expedite the reopening of the borders of the two countries within 15 days. Benin is also a key outlet to the Atlantic from Burkina Faso. It was also agreed to strengthen political, economic, scientific, and cultural exchanges, including through regular meetings of the Joint Cooperation Commission. Wadagni also extended an invitation to Traore for an official visit to Benin’s capital, Cotonou.
