After taking office on May 24, Benin’s President Romuald Wadagni embarked on a regional tour that took him to Nigeria, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal. This marks a significant shift in Benin’s diplomatic approach, moving away from the tensions that characterized relations under former President Patrice Talon with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), particularly Niger.

The new strategy represents a turning point for West Africa, ending the period of direct confrontation that followed the coups in AES member states between 2020 and 2023. Benin now prioritizes a pragmatic focus on security and economic cooperation.

But will President Wadagni’s new posture succeed?

To explore this question, a panel of experts including Paul Amoussou, director of publication of Benin’s national daily La Nation; David Dosseh, first spokesperson of the Togolese citizen front Togo Debout; and independent journalist Ousmane Ndiaye shared their analysis.