Benin Blocks Border Crossings to Niger amid Rising Tensions
Benin has blocked border crossings to Niger across the river between the neighbours, sources told AFP on Thursday, in an escalation of tensions since the military seized power in Niamey last July. Despite ECOWAS lifting sanctions, tensions have been rising with accusations and counter-accusations between the two countries regarding the movement of goods.
The spillover of jihadist conflicts from Niger and Burkina Faso pose a threat to Benin and its Gulf of Guinea neighbours, further complicating the situation. Benin initially opened its border after the lifting of sanctions but it remains closed on the Niger side, causing President Patrice Talon to express his displeasure.
The closure of the river traffic is the latest decision affecting trade between the two countries, with Benin pointing to informal border trafficking as a reason for the increase in the cost of living. Despite these challenges, Benin has agreed to allow exports of Nigerien oil through its port of Seme, resolving one point of contention.