Benin–Niger: the crisis is taking on a new dimension
The already fragile relations between Niger and Benin enter a new episode of tension. The mutual expulsions of diplomatic staff, followed by the announcement of the suspension of activities at the Benin Embassy in Niamey, signal a diplomatic escalation against a backdrop of persistent security concerns and enduring political mistrust.
SUMMARY
On Wednesday, January 1, Nigerien authorities declared persona non grata Seidou Imourana, the principal adviser at the Benin Embassy in Niamey. The diplomat was ordered to leave the territory within 48 hours. In an official statement, the Nigerien Ministry of Foreign Affairs invoked the “principle of reciprocity,” without detailing the precise reasons for this decision.
This measure comes in response to the expulsion, a few days earlier in Cotonou, of two members of the Nigerien embassy staff: an officer from the Directorate General for Documentation and External Security (DGDSE) and a police commissioner. According to several concordant sources, Beninese authorities suspected them of subversive activities, accusations that were not detailed in an official communication.
A principle of reciprocity
In the wake of this, the Benin Embassy in Niamey announced the suspension of its activities starting January 5, 2026. A letter addressed to the Benin community, signed by the chargé d’affaires, cited “circumstances beyond its control” and stated that nationals would be informed later of a possible resumption of consular services. In Cotonou, however, government sources downplay the scope of this announcement, suggesting that it would not formally entail the closure of the diplomatic mission.
This renewed tension comes amid a regional climate already heavy. It echoes the coup attempt thwarted in Benin in early December, an event that revived suspicions and speculation in the sub-region. Some media outlets have mentioned, without official evidence, alleged external support for the coup plotters, which the Beninese government has firmly denounced.
Since the overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum in Niger, on July 26, 2023, relations between Niamey and Cotonou have deeply deteriorated. General Abdourahamane Tiani, head of the Nigerien transitional authorities, regularly accuses Benin of hosting, with the backing of France, bases used to destabilize his regime. These accusations are categorically rejected by Beninese President Patrice Talon and his government, who advocate dialogue and de-escalation.
This bilateral crisis is also part of a broader context of geopolitical reconfiguration in West Africa. Niger, a member of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) alongside Mali and Burkina Faso, increasingly openly opposes several coastal ECOWAS countries, including Benin. A symbol of this persistent rupture, the Niger-Benin border has remained closed since July 2023, harming economic exchanges and border communities.
At this stage, there are no tangible signs of de-escalation. The diplomatic expulsions and the contradictory announcements around the embassy indicate a relationship at a standstill, where distrust outweighs coordination. A situation that pushes even further away the prospect of lasting calm between Niamey and Cotonou.
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