President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday evening, received his Béninois counterpart, Patrice Talon, at the State House, Abuja.
Talon who arrived at the Villa at 04:43pm was immediately ushered into the President’s office for a closed-door session.
It’s been one week since the last in-person meeting between the two leaders to discuss emerging issues in the West African sub region.
Talon is likely to brief Tinubu, who serves as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority, on efforts to restore a democratic dispensation in Mail, Guinea Bissau and Burkina Faso, which had fallen to Coups d’etat in the last two years.
The recent coup fears in Niger Republic may also feature in the discussions.
On July 18, Tinubu received the Béninois President alongside Umaro Embalo of Guinea-Bissau, Mohammed Bazoum of Niger Republic and President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray to discuss security and the rising spate of coups, amongst other issues.
At the meeting, the West African leaders examined the political and security climate in the region during their meeting, particularly focusing on political transitions in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, as well as overarching security issues in the region.
The ECOWAS Commission President, Omar Touray, who shared the resolutions from the meeting with journalists, revealed that President Talon of Benin is to visit the three West African countries— Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea—soon, representing the Authority of Heads of State and Government.
Touray explained, “Regarding the political situation in the sub-region, the leaders have reviewed the transition in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea. Regarding the transition in those three countries, the leaders have taken the decision to re-engage the three countries at the highest level.
“A member of the Troika, in the person of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Benin, will undertake a mission to these three countries on behalf of the heads of state. That mission will be undertaken shortly.”
