Niger has decided to keep its borders with Benin closed. This is despite the fact that a bilateral road transport deal between Niger and Benin had in the past been established. Niger's rationale for the closure relates to security concerns, specifically terrorist activities, which they allege is being fueled by the French.
The Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, according to the publication; Sputnik, has revealed that the Niger-Benin border would remain closed owing to the threat of terrorist attacks.
He noted that there are foreign soldiers in the area who have been training these terrorists.
This nation, which is next to Niger has "the largest and most dangerous base, on the edge of the W National Park, where these soldiers train terrorists", he stated.
This is following the Minister's allegations earlier in May, that French bases in Benin are training terrorists to destabilize Niger.
The Minister urged businesses to ship their items to Togo. The borders with Algeria, Libya, and Chad are still open.
A reciprocal road transport agreement exists between Benin and Niger, a landlocked nation in West Africa, allowing Benin enterprises to move goods to and from Niger by using ports in Benin and nearby Togo.
Back in February, the West African Bloc, ECOWAS, known fully as the Economic Community of West African States, opted to lift sanctions placed on Niger as a result of its coup, including border closures. In response to the decision, Benin's borders with Niger were reopened, but Niger's borders remained closed.
Some weeks back, Benin blocked China's first oil shipment from Niger over the same border dispute, restricting the export of fuel from its port after Niger refused to open its land border to goods coming from the south.
Before this, just 5% of cargo passed through the port of Lomé was from Niger; Lomé has long wished to see this percentage rise.
A bilateral road transport deal between the landlocked countries of Benin and Niger was previously created, allowing Beninese businesses to convey Nigerien imports and exports through the ports of Benin and Togo.
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