Benin President Romualt Wadagni begins regional diplomatic tour of Senegal, Mali and Guinea-Bissau

On 9 June 2026 Benin’s newly inaugurated president, Romualt Wadagni, launched a three‑country diplomatic tour aimed at deepening economic, monetary and security cooperation within the West African sub‑region. His first stop was Dakar, where he met Senegal’s president Bassirou Diomaye Faye at the Léopold Sédar Senghor military airport and later at the presidential palace. Discussions covered bilateral trade, financial integration under the UEMOA and shared security challenges, but no formal agreements were announced.

The itinerary continues to Bamako, where Wadagni will hold talks with Mali’s foreign minister, followed by a visit to Conakry to engage the military junta that seized power in late 2025. The tour follows an earlier round of visits to Niger, Burkina Faso, Togo and Côte d’Ivoire, signalling Benin’s shift away from isolation and its intent to reinforce regional integration.