Bénin and Niger are advancing toward reopening their shared border following a high-level meeting between expert committees from both nations in Cotonou. This gathering follows President Romuald Wadagni’s recent visit to Niamey on June 2, part of ongoing efforts to restore bilateral relations.

Led by Niger’s Minister of State for Security, General Mohamed Toumba, and Bénin’s Minister for African Integration, Adjadi Bakari, the joint teams convened at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cotonou. The closed-door discussions, which began on June 20, cover critical areas including security, defense, diplomacy, legal frameworks, and economic cooperation. The sessions will continue through Sunday, June 21.

A border reopening remains a priority, but final agreements on defense protocols, security measures, and customs procedures must still be formalized before implementation.