Nigeria, April 23 -- Romuald Wadagni's election as Benin's president on 12 April may prove to be more than a routine domestic transition. It could reopen dialogue between Niger and Benin and help ease wider regional tensions. The African Union (AU) remains one of the few actors still able to play a credible facilitation role.

Since the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on 29 January 2025, political tensions have increasingly played bilaterally, notably between Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire, Mali and Cote d'Ivoire, and Benin and Niger. The Cotonou-Niamey relationship stands out as particularly strained, marked by deep mistrust, personalisation and mutual accusations.

Trig...