Romuald Wadagni, who took office as Benin's president on 24 May, travelled to Niamey and Ouagadougou on Tuesday 2 June as part of a West African tour, becoming the first Beninese head of state to visit Niger since the military coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023. Relations between Benin and its two northern neighbours have been deeply strained since the military takeovers in Niger and Burkina Faso, with both juntas accusing Cotonou of hosting French military bases intended to destabilise them, and Niger additionally blaming Benin for backing a proposed ECOWAS military intervention. Key grievances include a closed Benin-Niger border that has disrupted trade and transport, an unresolved territorial dispute between Benin and Burkina Faso currently before the International Court of Justice, and a lack of security cooperation. Wadagni, who had already signalled a desire for dialogue by inviting the three Alliance of Sahel States countries to his inauguration, is seeking to normalise ties, though diplomats caution that a full resolution of the disputes will require further rounds of talks.