The new Beninese president Romuald Wadagni made an official visit to Niger on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, where he was received in Niamey by the Nigerien head of state, General Abdourahamane Tiani. This meeting comes a few days after his inauguration and marks a break with his predecessor in managing the crisis with the Nigerien neighbor, whose border has been closed since the military of the CNSP came to power.
At the end of the discussions, the two leaders addressed several issues of common interest, including economic cooperation, security issues, and the revival of bilateral relations. The situation of the border between the two countries, closed since 2023, was also among the hot topics discussed during the talks.
Romuald Wadagni is aware of one thing: he cannot afford to have a indefinitely closed border with his Nigerien neighbor, risking compromising his economic development plan. This is therefore a question that has a major economic stake.
Since its closure in 2023, trade between the two countries has greatly slowed down. Many Nigerien economic operators have been forced to bypass the Beninese corridor by going through Nigeria, leading to increased logistical costs, longer transport times, and decreased profitability of commercial activities. Transporters, especially in the hydrocarbons sector, have suffered significant financial losses.
All these elements make the normalization of relations between Cotonou and Niamey a crucial issue for reviving trade and regional economic activity.
Summit meeting with Captain Ibrahim Traoré
After the Nigerien leg, Romuald Wadagni traveled to Ouagadougou, where he met with the President of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. The two heads of state also discussed the prospects for normalization of relations, as well as the desire to cooperate in the areas of transport, logistics, investment, and security.
This regional tour is primarily a message that the new Beninese president is sending to his Sahelian neighbors, who constantly accuse Cotonou of being a rear base for destabilization. It becomes imperative to restore dialogue in the face of the growing insecurity in West Africa. Romuald Wadagni aims to normalize relations with his neighbors in order to better coordinate the fight against terrorism, as well as promote economic exchanges and create conditions for lasting stability in the region.
