The attack that took place on Thursday, June 18, 2026, has sent shockwaves across West Africa. Just as negotiations for reopening the border between Bénin and Niger were entering a decisive phase, this fresh wave of violence has abruptly derailed the diplomatic process. Behind this act, several observers now point to a possible war of economic influence, with some even suspecting interference from Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé.
JNIM as a Tool for Political Sabotage?
According to sources close to the matter, the assault was orchestrated by the Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM). However, the speed and timing of the operation raise questions. For many regional analysts, the terrorist group may have acted as a service provider for external state interests.
The name of Faure Gnassingbé is increasingly heard in diplomatic corridors. The Togolese head of state is suspected of having financed this specific attack with a single goal: to derail the imminent agreement between Cotonou and Niamey.
The Battle of Ports: The Real Motive
To understand the deeper issues, one must shift focus from the security front and examine the economic maps of the subregion.
The crux of the problem: Since the closure of the border between Bénin and Niger, the Autonomous Port of Lomé (PAL) has become Niamey’s alternative economic lifeline. Togo has massively captured the flow of Nigerian goods, generating record profits.
A normalisation of relations between Wadagni and the Nigerien general, or the Nigerien authorities, would mean an immediate return of transit through the port of Cotonou, which is much closer and more natural for Niger. For Lomé, the resulting loss would amount to billions of CFA francs.
A Setback for Regional Diplomacy
By striking on the very day the situation was shifting, the instigators of the attack ensure that mistrust once again takes hold between Bénin and Niger. If Lomé’s involvement is formally proven, it would mark a dramatic turning point in relations within the subregion, demonstrating that commercial warfare has now moved beyond legal boundaries and onto the battlefield of bloodshed.
