Diplomacy: Nicéphore Soglo praises the initial initiatives of President Romuald Wadagni

For the first head of state of the democratic renewal era in Benin, the new president made a relevant strategic choice by prioritizing neighboring relations.

Romuald Wadagni visited Nigeria on Monday, June 1, 2026, before making visits to Niger and Burkina Faso on June 2, two member countries of the Alliance of Sahel States. A diplomatic sequence that Nicéphore Soglo describes as particularly wise, believing that the successor of Patrice Talon has “approached the diplomatic question the right way.”

Clearly enthusiastic, the former president did not hide his approval. “I am the happiest man,” he shared, praising the fact that the Beninese head of state first met Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he calls the “giant of Nigeria,” before turning to Benin’s immediate neighbors. “It’s wonderful,” he added.

For Nicéphore Soglo, this approach marks a positive break. “He has broken the chains. I called him to congratulate him. We must resolve issues with neighbors before looking to others,” he indicated according to reports by Le Matinal.

For Nicéphore Soglo, stability and regional cooperation are prerequisites for any effective diplomacy.
The former president thus believes that Romuald Wadagni made the right choice by prioritizing his official visits to Benin’s neighboring countries, in a regional context marked by major security and political issues.

This orientation, in his view, fits within a logic of good neighborliness and regional responsibility.
As a reminder, Nicéphore Soglo and former president Boni Yayi had engaged themselves, in June 2025, in a mediation effort aimed at contributing to easing tensions between Benin and Niger.