Benin’s new president, Romuald Wadagni, visited Niger and Burkina Faso on Tuesday in an effort to rebuild ties with Sahel states, less than a week after taking office. He secured a commitment from the military junta in Niger to begin the process of reopening their common border.

The border was closed after Niamey accused Benin of harbouring “French bases” bent on destabilising Niger. Mr Wadagni’s visit came a day after his first international trip as president to Nigeria on Monday.

Niger’s foreign minister, Bakary Yaou Sangare, said the two leaders discussed the terrorist threat in the Sahel and West Africa and “reaffirmed their commitment to joining forces to combat the scourge of terrorism and banditry” that has plagued the sub-region for several years, undermining development programmes.

Mr Wadagni later travelled to Ouagadougou to meet Captain Ibrahim Traoré, Burkina Faso’s head of state. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening political dialogue and deepening cooperation. Discussions focused on security, counterterrorism, trade, infrastructure, vocational training, and logistics.

Both Niger and Burkina Faso are battling jihadist violence and, alongside Mali, form the Alliance of Sahel States, a confederation created after military takeovers severed ties with former colonial power France.