The Nigerian president rules out reopening his country's border with Benin, stressing the need to heal wounds.
Ahmed Salem
Niger's president, General Abdourahmane Tiéné, ruled out on Saturday any immediate reopening of the border with Benin. The border has remained closed for nearly three years.
In a lengthy interview broadcast on state television to mark the third anniversary of his taking office, he stated that “wounds” still exist between the two countries, and that they must be “healed” first before any final decision can be considered.
Border closure between Nigeria and Benin
These borders were closed shortly after the army took control of Niamey in July 2023, with Nigerien authorities accusing their Beninese neighbor of trying to destabilize the country with support from France.
Relations, which had been extremely strained, saw a notable breakthrough last June thanks to a visit to Niamey by the new Beninese president, Romuald Wadani.
Borders will reopen soon!
This visit has raised hopes for a swift reopening of the border, especially since both countries are at risk of jihadist violence perpetrated by groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and ISIS.
However, General Tiani tempered these hopes, stating: “Things have changed a lot, and there are still scars and wounds that need careful treatment before a final decision can be made to reopen.”.
He stressed that although both sides have shown their willingness and commitment, certain conditions still remain.
It is up to him and the President of Benin to provide a joint response to ensure the sustainability of the reopening, “so that no Beninese or Nigerien president decides to close it again suddenly.”.
Requirements for opening borders
These statements reflect the conditions set by Niamey at the end of April, during a meeting in Cotonou between Niger's Interior Minister, General Mohamed Toumba, and the committee of experts tasked with the matter.
The military regime at the time demanded the signing of a "defense agreement" as well as a "security agreement that enshrines the principle of non-violation of one state's territory by another." These points still need to be finalized before any actual lifting of the border blockade.
