Over the weekend, Niger announced that it is maintaining the closure of its side of the border with Benin, citing security fears.
The country is “ready to reopen the border with Benin when we are certain that our territory is safe,” Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine said on Sunday.
Niamey has openly accused Cotonou of harbouring French military bases, which are allegedly training members of armed terrorist groups to supposedly to attack the junta-ruled landlocked country.
“We have freely decided to keep our border with Benin shut, because there are French bases on Beninese territory,” the head of the Nigerien government maintained.
“On some of these bases, terrorists are being trained to destabilise our country,” he said, adding that Niger would keep its border closed ”until Benin decides to deal with this crucial issue.”
The reaction of the Prime Minister of Niger follows the decision of the Beninese authorities to prevent the shipment of Nigerien crude oil from the Beninese port of Seme, in response to Niamey’s refusal to reopen its border.
According to him, the supposed port blockade by the Beninese authorities violates more than a dozen agreements signed between Benin, Niger and China as part of the construction and commissioning of an oil pipeline.
Through this pipeline which is almost 2,000 kilometres, Niger began sending its crude oil meant for export to Benin to be sold on the international market by the Chinese company CNPC, the main shareholder.
Niamey said it had asked the Chinese to “talk” with the Beninese authorities in the hope that a “solution will be found.”
Since the 26th July 2023 coup against President Mohamed Bazoum, relations have been strained between Niger and Benin.
In addition to maintaining the closure of the border, the new authorities in Niger have renounced the military agreement between the two neighours.
Niamey is maintaining the closure of the border despite the easing of regional sanctions introduced by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) shortly after a coup led by Abdourahmane Tchiani toppled Mr. Bazoum last year.
The sanctions backed by Benin were meant to bring pressure to bear on the military junta to restore Mr Bazoum who with some members of his family have been under house arrest ever since.
Speaking about the effects of Niger’s ‘unfriendly posture’ on his country’s economy last week, the tough-talking Beninese President Patrice Talon declared that the Seme port will not be opened to Niger oil export unless the junta in Niamey end the border blockade.
“Benin is not an enemy country and if tomorrow the Nigerien authorities decide to collaborate with Benin in a formal manner, the boats will be loaded,” he had added.
Before the coup, both countries had enjoyed good trade relations.
Niger has since replaced Benin with Togo for its import and export activities since the border closure.
