Freshly sworn in as Benin’s president, Romuald Wadagni kicked off his first diplomatic mission abroad on Tuesday, June 2, with simultaneous visits to Niamey and Ouagadougou. This early outreach marks the beginning of a broader West African tour aimed at reshaping regional alliances and mending strained ties with Sahelian neighbors.
Invested into office on May 24 in Cotonou, Wadagni succeeds Patrice Talon and is determined to move past months of diplomatic frost between Benin and the military-led governments of Niger and Burkina Faso, led respectively by General Abdourahamane Tiani and Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
Diplomatic overtures aimed at healing Sahelian divides
This high-stakes visit unfolds against a backdrop of lingering tensions between Cotonou, Niamey, and Ouagadougou. Since the military takeovers in Niamey in July 2023 and Burkina Faso, bilateral relations have deteriorated significantly. The previous administration in Benin maintained a stance perceived as aligned with ECOWAS, an organization viewed with hostility by the Sahelian juntas, which ultimately led to the withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso from the bloc.
Romuald Wadagni, a former Minister of Economy and Finance known for his pragmatic approach, is opting for direct engagement over formal declarations to signal a shift in policy. By visiting both capitals in his second week in office, he underscores a clear intent to address long-standing disputes, particularly the closure of the Niger-Benin border and recurring accusations of transborder security breaches.
Cotonou’s port corridor: a critical economic lifeline
The economic stakes are high, with the Cotonou-Niamey corridor serving as a vital logistics artery for landlocked Niger. Trade disruptions, initially triggered by ECOWAS sanctions and later by the withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso from the regional bloc, have dealt a severe blow to Beninese economic operators. The Port of Cotonou has seen a sharp decline in traffic to the Sahel, redirecting trade flows toward Lomé and Tema instead.
For Benin, restoring unimpeded trade flows is both an economic and diplomatic imperative. Customs and port revenues represent a substantial portion of public finances. Achieving normalization will hinge on reopening border crossings and lifting additional taxes imposed by both sides. Security concerns, particularly the threat posed by armed groups operating in the W Regional Park and along the shared border, are also expected to dominate discussions.
Balancing ties with the AES while remaining in ECOWAS
Cotonou’s diplomatic challenge is to navigate a delicate balance. While remaining a member of ECOWAS, Benin seeks to rebuild meaningful dialogue with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), established in September 2023 by Niamey, Ouagadougou, and Bamako to formalize their break from the Abuja-based bloc. Romuald Wadagni must tread carefully, avoiding any perception of endorsing military transitions while upholding Benin’s regional commitments.
The symbolic weight of this trip is not lost on observers. By choosing Niamey and Ouagadougou as his first overseas destinations outside the coastal zone, the new president sends a strong message to historical partners with whom Benin shares not only borders but also pressing security challenges in its northern regions. Repeated jihadist attacks in northern Benin, attributed to affiliates of Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, underscore the urgency of renewed cooperation with Sahelian armed forces.
The true test will be the reception Wadagni receives from General Tiani and Captain Traoré. The transitional authorities in Niamey and Ouagadougou have so far favored partnerships with Moscow and distanced themselves from traditional West African frameworks. Wadagni’s gamble lies in proving that a distinct Beninese path, independent of ECOWAS directives, can yield tangible benefits for border communities and economic operators alike.
