Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye arrived in Cotonou on Tuesday, July 15, for a one-day official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties with Benin and revitalizing regional institutions grappling with instability in West Africa. During his meeting with Beninese President Patrice Talon, the two leaders underscored their shared vision for closer cooperation between their nations. They discussed strategic efforts to deepen economic, trade, and security partnerships, while reaffirming their commitment to regional solidarity in the face of rising terrorist threats and political unrest.
The talks were particularly significant amid growing tensions within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), following Burkina Faso’s rejected bid to lead the Council of Ministers—a move that triggered a boycott by the Sahel Alliance bloc, comprising Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
President Faye and President Talon also reflected on recent outcomes of the ECOWAS summit held in Abuja, where leaders established a ministerial troika to assist the Commission President in diplomatic outreach to Sahel countries following their withdrawal from the regional bloc. Both heads of state agreed that West Africa’s key institutions—WAEMU and ECOWAS—must undergo urgent reforms to better respond to the evolving political and security landscape. This visit marks Faye’s latest diplomatic push to rebuild bridges across the region since taking office in April 2025. He and Talon emphasized the importance of regional dialogue and collaboration to safeguard economic growth and democratic stability in West Africa.
