Two years of tension between Benin and Niger this week saw the West African neighbours carry out a tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats, diplomatic sources in both states said on Sunday.

Relations have been frosty since Niger's military coup against President Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023.

Niger claims that Benin wants to destabilise it, an allegation Cotonou denies.

Recent days saw Benin expel an intelligence agent and a police officer stationed at the Niger embassy in Cotonou, according to a Beninese diplomatic source, who did not specify a reason.

'Persona non grata'

In retaliation, Niger, in a note dated Thursday, declared the first counsellor of Benin's embassy in Niamey "persona non grata" and gave him 48 hours to leave the country, citing a reciprocal move.

Niger is allied with Burkina Faso and Mali, its two neighbours which are also under transitional rule. All three states have left the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which Benin is part of, to form a confederation called the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

The trio share an anti-imperialist and pro-sovereignty vision and have criticised West African coastal countries which have maintained ties with former colonial ruler, France.