Benin and Niger agree to reopen shared border after joint expert committee report

On 16 June 2026, Benin and Niger issued a joint communiqué confirming the completion of the first cycle of work by a bilateral expert committee tasked with defining conditions for reopening their common border. The committee was established after Beninese President Romuald Wadagni’s official visit to Niamey on 2 June 2026 and was given a fifteen‑day mandate to examine security, trade corridors and other technical issues.

The experts reported “fruitful results,” and both delegations will meet again before the week’s end to draft a single report for Presidents Wadagni and Tiani. The anticipated report will pave the way for restoring free movement of goods and people, signalling a reinforced Benino‑Nigerien partnership and a step toward broader regional integration in West Africa.