Benin-Burkina Faso: When the Anti-Terrorism Fight Bypasses CEDEAO-AES Blockages

A Burkinabe military unit took position on July 13, 2026 in Koualou, a border locality in northern Benin, launching joint patrols with the Beninese Armed Forces. This renewed cooperation follows a visit by Beninese President Romuald Wadagni to Ouagadougou on June 2, 2026. Facing the deadlock between ECOWAS and the Sahel States Alliance (AES), the two countries favor direct security arrangements. The initiative remains limited for now to localized patrols on a specific border area.