The newly elected President of Bénin, Romuald Wadagni, made a brief but significant diplomatic stopover in Niger this past Tuesday, June 2, marking his first official visit since the military takeover in Niamey last July. The meeting signals a potential easing of tensions between the two neighboring nations, which have been strained by Niamey’s accusation that Cotonou is overly aligned with Paris and allegedly seeking to destabilize its regime.
Upon landing in Niamey, President Wadagni was greeted by General Abdourahamane Tiani, the leader of Niger’s military junta. Following a prior visit to Nigeria the day before, Wadagni’s second stop in the region was dedicated to Niger, where discussions with General Tiani focused on reviving bilateral security cooperation. Both countries face persistent threats from jihadist violence along their borders.
Wadagni departed Niamey in the early afternoon, with Burkina Faso as his next destination.
Diplomatic thaw: a strategic move for regional stability
According to Bénin’s presidency, this visit underscores Wadagni’s commitment to an active neighborhood diplomacy, aimed at strengthening ties with all neighboring states. The thaw in relations was first hinted at during Wadagni’s inauguration in Cotonou, where Niger’s Prime Minister, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, was notably present.
Relations between the two countries had reached a low point earlier this year when General Tiani publicly accused outgoing Bénin President Patrice Talon of being a supporter of jihadist groups responsible for the attack on Niamey’s airport. These claims were firmly denied by authorities in Cotonou. Meanwhile, Bénin has itself struggled with a surge in deadly jihadist attacks in its northern border regions, which share a frontier with Niger. Conversely, Niamey has faced accusations—though never officially confirmed—of involvement in a failed coup attempt in Bénin back in December 2025.
