Border crisis: discussions between Benin and Niger at a standstill

The border crisis between Benin and Niger is worsening, discussions are at a standstill. Both countries blaming each other.

President Talon imposes the opening of land borders or at a minimum, the Nigerien authorities officially announce that the closure of these is an exception to oil before any restart of the transit of Nigerien oil from the port of Sèmè-Kpodji. For its part, Niamey uses security reasons to keep them closed.

Faced with this impasse, Benin sent an emissary to Niamey who was refused. Questioned, Nigerien Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine criticizes the Beninese approach in which the Beninese police were responsible for chasing its representatives from the port of Sèmè-Kpodji. A mediation meeting was held in Niamey last week at the initiative of the Chinese company Wapco. But no common ground seems to have been found for the moment.

In November 2023, Niger inaugurated a giant oil pipeline, which should make it possible to transport crude oil extracted from the Agadem deposit in the South-East to Benin.