Benin

Benin is a West African nation that has recently been in the news due to its internal politics and its relationship with neighboring Niger. In January 2026, provisional results showed that President Patrice Talon's ruling alliance secured all 109 seats in Benin's National Assembly, effectively giving them full control. This followed legislative elections where only parties aligned with Talon managed to win seats. Simultaneously, Benin has been implicated in regional tensions. Niger's military government, led by Abdourahamane Tiani, has accused Benin, along with France and Ivory Coast, of sponsoring an attack on Niamey's international airport. Tiani offered no evidence for this accusation. These accusations highlight the complex and potentially strained relationships between countries in the region, particularly in the context of ongoing security challenges and political instability in the Sahel.