Benin president Romuald Wadagni begins strategic tour of Senegal, Mali, Guinea-Bissau

Benin president Romuald Wadagni commences today a working and friendship visit that will take him successively to Senegal, Mali, and Guinea-Bissau. This official trip marks a significant new phase in the proactive diplomacy of good neighbourliness and economic integration pursued by the Beninese head of state within the West African region.

Consolidating the UEMOA axis

These travels are part of a broad presidential tour aimed at the member states of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA). By meeting his counterparts in Dakar, Bamako, and Bissau, Mr. Wadagni seeks to strengthen ties with historic partners who share a common monetary destiny with Benin through the CFA franc and the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO).

At the core of discussions with the highest authorities of these three nations are several strategic agenda items:

• Economic and trade cooperation: Stimulating bilateral trade flows and harmonising growth policies in the face of global macroeconomic shocks.
• Inter-community solidarity: Consolidating human and cultural bonds among the peoples of the sub-region for integration that goes beyond the purely institutional framework.
• Regional security: Exchanging views on cross-border security challenges, a crucial issue for the stability of the entire West African area.

The strategic choice of multilateralism

This series of visits follows an especially active early June on the diplomatic front, which had already taken the head of state to Niger, Burkina Faso, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire.

By multiplying these face-to-face meetings with his peers, President Wadagni reaffirms the priority direction of his foreign policy: making direct dialogue and the strengthening of community institutions the main lever for the prosperity and stability of Benin and its African partners.