On Tuesday, June 2, Cotonou and Niamey jointly declared their commitment to deepening collaboration across multiple sectors during an official visit by Beninese President Romuald Wadagni to Niger, extended at the invitation of Nigerien counterpart Abdourahamane Tiani.

A joint statement released after the meeting emphasized the Presidents’ shared conviction in strengthening political, economic, scientific, and cultural ties between both nations. They pledged to expand mutual exchanges, particularly through regular sessions of the Niger-Benin Joint Cooperation Commission.

The leaders made a firm pledge to dismantle all barriers impeding bilateral cooperation, with immediate focus on reopening the Benin-Niger border—a long-closed crossing that had severely restricted human movement and local economic activities due to past tensions.

To transform this political commitment into actionable steps, the two heads of state established an expert committee tasked with identifying these obstacles and proposing viable solutions within a strict 15-day deadline.

The discussions between Wadagni and Tiani, involving their respective delegations, unfolded in an atmosphere of warmth and thorough examination of shared challenges, both regional and global in scope.

The Presidents celebrated the “long-standing bonds of brotherhood, friendship, and cooperation” uniting their nations and reaffirmed their shared determination to elevate bilateral relations to meet the aspirations of their citizens, who seek peace, security, and sustainable development.

President Wadagni, sworn in on May 24, has prioritized restoring neighborly relations as a cornerstone of his agenda. He extended an official invitation to President Tiani for a reciprocal state visit to Benin.