Niger to keep border closure with Benin over French military presence

Niger’s President Abdourahamane Tchiani has reaffirmed that the country’s border with Benin will remain closed, citing the presence of French troops on Beninese territory as the primary reason.

“We have kept the border with Benin closed, and the border with Benin will remain closed as long as Benin will not understand that the fight that we are waging is not against Benin that we are fighting, it’s against the French troops of destabilisation who are on Benin territory and who can harm us,” President Tchiani stated, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Tensions between the two West African neighbours have escalated since the military coup in Niger on July 26, 2023. Following the coup, Niger shut its borders, and relations with neighbouring countries, particularly Benin, have remained strained.

President Tchiani also highlighted growing military cooperation among the members of the Alliance of Sahel States — Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

“The military power of our three countries is being strengthened,” he said, adding that the bloc had conducted three joint operations in January and February.

Last month, Niger extended its border closure with Benin, citing security threats and accusing France of using its military bases in Benin to train and support terrorists targeting Niger. Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine alleged that French forces were working to destabilise the country and urged businesses to reroute shipments through Togo instead. Niger, however, continues to keep its borders open with Algeria, Libya, and Chad.

In a retaliatory move, Benin has also blocked river border crossings into Niger. The border conflict has intensified recently, with Benin previously halting China’s first oil shipment from Niger, further exacerbating the standoff.

By Sabina Mammadli