President of Benin makes first visit to Niger since 2023 coup

Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:

The president-elect of Benin arrived in Niger On Tuesday, in his country's first presidential visit to Niamey since the 2023 coup, in a sign of easing tensions between the two neighboring countries, According to the country's official television.

The disputes come after Niger's military leaders closed the border with Benin, accusing it of harboring "French bases" aimed at destabilizing Niger, which had already severed ties with its traditional ally, France.

The head of the military council, Abdourahmane Tiani, received the president of Benin, Romuald Wadani, who took power on May 24.

Benin and Niger discuss regional security

The President of the Republic will discuss with President Abdourahmane Tiéné and President Ibrahim Traoré issues of regional security, prospects for economic and trade cooperation, and ways to strengthen solidarity with the peoples of Nigeria and Burkina Faso. The parties are expected to discuss relaunching security cooperation between the two countries.

According to Tele Sahel, the first meeting was scheduled to take place in the airport's presidential lounge.

In an initial sign of improved relations, Niger's Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zene attended Wadani's inauguration ceremony in Cotonou, where he spoke of a new path for relations.

Niamey, the capital of Niger, witnessed on Tuesday the main roads being decorated with the flags of both countries, and hundreds of Beninese people gathered to greet the presidential motorcade.

The visit to Niger is Wadani's second foreign trip after his visit to Nigeria on Monday.