Three nations, three urgent agendas, one week. In his first official trip beyond Benin’s borders, President Romuald Wadagni set his sights on Abuja, Niamey and Ouagadougou. The mission: to mend strained regional cooperation frayed by security crises and political tensions since 2023.
Security and trade dominated discussions during Wadagni’s regional tour. The journey aimed to restore direct dialogue with leaders from Nigeria, Niger and Burkina Faso. With Abuja, the focus was dual: economic revival and security collaboration. Nigeria remains Benin’s top trading partner and a pivotal force in countering armed groups across the Lake Chad basin. Wadagni underscored the urgency of reopening the Lagos-Cotonou trade corridor, whose persistent blockades are crippling both economies.
In Niger and Burkina Faso, the emphasis shifted to cross-border coordination. Jihadist incursions into Benin’s Atacora and Alibori regions have made isolated responses unsustainable. Concrete steps discussed included resuming intelligence sharing and partially reopening commercial exchanges.
Wadagni deliberately steered clear of political alliances, focusing instead on shared challenges. This pragmatic stance marks a departure from earlier diplomacy, where relations were often dictated by stances on ECOWAS and military transitions.
Navigating fragmented alliances
The strategy carries risks. The three countries visited hold divergent positions toward regional institutions. Nigeria remains an active ECOWAS member, while Niger and Burkina Faso have exited the bloc and formed the Alliance of Sahel States.
Bridging these divides without assuming an official mediation role forces Benin to walk a tightrope. It must uphold credibility with ECOWAS and Western partners while avoiding isolation from neighbors sharing 700 km of borders and daily human exchanges with Benin.
The security dimension remains critical. Any bilateral accord risks failure without clear legal frameworks and logistical support for joint patrol units. Border communities are particularly eager for market reopenings and rural road security.
A pragmatic Sahel-Benin axis in the making?
Wadagni appears to champion a project-based diplomacy. Rather than resolving political rifts upfront, he prioritizes technical agreements on water, energy and cross-border mobility. The goal: foster tangible interests that make disengagement costly for all parties.
If visible progress materializes by late 2027, Benin could reclaim its role as a regional facilitator. The alternative—getting bogged down in unproductive talks while insecurity spreads—could erode its influence entirely.
The immediate test will be implementing commitments made in Niamey and Ouagadougou regarding North corridor security. Without tangible progress by year-end, the pragmatic narrative risks losing credibility.