GETTING THE BAND BACK TOGETHER Since 2024 the Sahelian capitals – Bamako Ouagadougou and Niamey – have received several senior West African visitors: Yusuf Tuggar then Nigeria's foreign minister; Benin's former presidents Nicéphore Soglo and Thomas Boni Yayi; presidents Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal John Dramani Mahama of Ghana Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone and Romuald Wadagni of Benin; and Lansana Kouyaté Ecowas's chief negotiator with the AES...

June also saw the new President of Benin Romuald Wadagni touring Ouagadougou Bamako and Niamey – where Wadagni's meeting with head of state General Abdourahamane Tiani defused the antagonism that has kept the Niger-Benin border crucial to regional trade closed for almost three years (AC Vol 67 No 13 Reaching out to the juntas Wadagni redraws regional ties)...

Less than a month after being sworn in Benin's new President Romuald Wadagni has met with Niger's junta leader Abdourahmane Tiani and negotiated the reopening of their common border boosting both economies...

Just nine days after his inauguration Benin's new president Romuald Wadagni flew to Niamey on 2 June for talks described by both sides as ‘highly cordial'...

As Romuald Wadagni approaches presidential election day on 12 April abstentions pose the greatest threat to his hopes of securing a decisive mandate...

West Africa in 2026 charts The results from Benin's parliamentary elections on 11 January will decide whether there is a strong opposition challenge ahead of April's presidential elections likely to be won by Romuald Wadagni the chosen successor of incumbent Patrice Talon...

WEST AFRICA: THE DECLINING DEMOCRATIC DIVIDENDS The results from Benin's parliamentary elections on 11 January will decide whether there is a strong opposition challenge ahead of April's presidential elections likely to be won by Romuald Wadagni the chosen successor of incumbent Patrice Talon...

Meanwhile Talon's crackdown and tight management to ensure the easy presidential succession of his protégé Romuald Wadagni at next April's polls risks souring the mood...

Talon's finance minister Romuald Wadagni who is positioned as his successor after next year's election was telling French journalists that the putschists were surrounded and loyalist forces were mopping up (AC Vol 66 No 18 Talon to step aside)...