On Sunday, October 4, the President of Benin, Romuald Wadagni, is expected to arrive in Paris for a two-day official visit. During this visit, he will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, marking Macron's first trip to France since Wadagni's inauguration. This visit between these two historical partners will be closely watched in light of Cotonou's economic ambitions and the jihadist threat at its borders, against the backdrop of a redefinition of relations between Paris and Africa. Romuald Wadagni is familiar with Paris, having frequently visited the city as Minister of State for Economy and Finance, and previously as a professional at Deloitte. Elected on May 24, 2026, the Beninese head of state is now arriving with a different role: that of President, tasked with shaping his country's diplomatic direction. This visit, prepared over several months, follows a series of trips to Africa, including Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Cote d'Ivoire, Mauritania, Togo, the Republic of Congo, and Rwanda. The first trip took him to Niamey on June 2, just a week after his inauguration. The choice of Paris, a few months after his accession to power, reflects the importance that Cotonou continues to attach to its relationship with France. At the Elysee, Emmanuel Macron and Romuald Wadagni will examine the state of bilateral cooperation and international issues. Beninese expectations are likely to focus on investments and the financing of priority infrastructure. Trade between the two countries remains modest: 309 million euros in 2025, of which 282 million were French exports. Drawing on his experience as Minister of Finance, Wadagni is well aware of the requirements of investors and the constraints of development financing. Benin seeks to consolidate its attractiveness and accelerate its structural projects. Paris could be asked to support this ambition. Security will be another sensitive topic. Faced with the advance of armed groups in its northern part, Benin needs cooperation in intelligence and training. On March 6, fifteen soldiers were killed in an attack on a military camp in Kofouno, claimed by the JNIM, linked to Al-Qaida, following the 54 deaths in the W Park in April 2025. Paris has already shown its willingness: during the attempted coup on December 7, 2025, France provided Cotonou, at its request, "support in terms of surveillance and logistics." In the sub-region, relations between France and the Sahel countries, including two of Benin's neighbors - Burkina Faso and Niger - have deeply deteriorated. Cotonou remains an important partner for Paris. The political significance of the visit goes beyond technical issues. For several years, France has been trying to redefine its relations with African countries, against the background of questioning its historical influence. The countries of the AES have gone the furthest in this challenge. Niger regularly accuses Benin of serving as a base for destabilizing its territory in collaboration with France, accusations that Cotonou has always denied. The border between the two countries remains closed: despite the commitment made in Niamey in June, General Tiani stated in July that he had "no specific date for opening." The challenge for Romuald Wadagni during this visit will be to preserve the advantages of an old partnership without giving the impression of a diplomacy focused on a single interlocutor. His African tour, which passed through Niamey, Ouagadougou, and Bamako before Paris, already shows a willingness to diversify partners and strengthen South-South cooperation. Culture and heritage could also be among the topics discussed, following the return of royal Danxomè artworks and initiatives undertaken between the two countries. The French law of May 9, 2026, which facilitates the restitution of cultural goods, has particularly relaunched the issue of the statue of the god Gou, kept at the Louvre and claimed by Cotonou.