Pacification of relations between Benin and Niger : The emergency of Gildas Agonkan

After the accusations, the time has come for appeasement in relations between Benin and Niger. At least, this is what the acceptance of Gildas Agonkan reflects, new ambassador of Benin to Niamey by the ruling junta.

Gildas Agonkan is now the spokesperson for the Beninese government in Niger. Appointed ambassador, the former member of the eighth legislature of the National Assembly has carte blanche to relaunch bilateral cooperation between the two countries. This is evidenced by his meeting with the Nigerien Minister of Foreign Affairs., on the sidelines of their stay in Cotonou. A l’occasion, Gildas Agonkan presented his credentials. For many observers, this new posture of the Nigerien authorities already augurs happy prospects for the two nations, more than ever condemned to work together in convergence and in fraternity. The time has finally come for Ambassador Gildas Agonkan, to engage in its diplomatic missions by working to strengthen relations between Benin and Niger.

The projects awaiting the new ambassador of Benin to Niger

What is expected from Gildas Agonkan is the resumption of land traffic between Benin and Niger. A materialization of the warming of relations between the two countries.  This is in the same dynamic as that started by former presidents Nicéphore Soglo and Boni Yayi and continued by President Talon in recent days..

Indeed, the 24 and 25 last july, a high-level Nigerien delegation led by the Minister of State for the Interior, General Mohamed Toumba, accompanied by President Tiani's chief of staff, Soumana Boubacar, was in Cotonou to meet Beninese President Patrice Talon. The mission which aimed to “discuss several subjects of common interest” between the two countries, was also composed of a representative of the High Commander of the National Gendarmerie, a representative of the High Commander of the National Guard, a representative of the National Police and a representative of the General Directorate of Documentation and External Security.

After this important step which allowed, among other things, the new ambassador to set foot on Nigerien territory, it becomes for him an imperative duty to work to raise suspicions of conspiracy against the State of Niger in collaboration with France which weighs on Benin. He will also have to take cross-border security issues to heart and work for a return to trust between the two countries..

May you remember that a diplomatic quarrel arose following the military putsch that took place on 26 July 2024. Niger criticized Benin for having implemented ECOWAS sanctions without concession. Sanctions marked by the total closure of land borders with Niger, thus blocking any transaction with the port of Cotonou, closest to the sub-region where goods pass from or to Niger. In return, Niger marks the occasion now its border closed despite the reopening of the border on the Benin side in February 2024. The regime led by General Abdourahaman Tiani criticizes its neighbor for not having assisted it in its time but also for hosting French military bases near the border between the two countries.

Despite mediation initiated last June by former Beninese presidents Nicéphore Soglo and Yayi Boni, the Beninese-Nigerian border still remains closed. Gildas Agonkan therefore knows what awaits him urgently.

Arnaud ACAKPO (Coll)