French President Emmanuel Macron has received Benin’s President Romuald Wadagni at the Élysée Palace in Paris during Wadagni’s first official visit to France since assuming office in May.
The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, particularly in the areas of security, energy, military training and culture.
Macron said France and Benin maintained a relationship based on “friendship, trust and ambition,” stressing “the importance of continued cooperation between the two countries.”
The meeting comes as France seeks to rebuild its relations with African countries after reducing its military presence on the continent amid growing anti-French sentiment.
France continues to train Beninese military pilots and special forces involved in efforts to combat insurgency in northern Benin.
However, Benin’s continued security cooperation with France has strained relations with some neighbouring countries, which have accused the country of hosting French troops.
The two countries are also discussing the restitution of Benin’s cultural treasures taken during the colonial era.
Several cultural artefacts were returned to Benin in 2024, while dozens of others remain in French institutions, including the Louvre and Quai Branly museums in Paris.
Africanews
