Niger sets strict requirements for reopening border with Bénin
Niger has outlined several mandatory conditions for the restoration of traffic across its border with Bénin, which has remained largely closed for nearly three years. The authorities in Niamey are calling for the formalization of defense and security pacts to ensure that neither nation’s territory is utilized for hostile actions against the other, alongside a push for enhanced intelligence cooperation.
The Nigerien Minister of the Interior, General Mohamed Toumba, traveled to Cotonou on Saturday, June 20, to meet with the expert committee tasked with negotiating the border reopening between Niger and Bénin.
During these high-level discussions, the General identified two essential prerequisites for reopening the crossing: the ratification of a defense agreement and the signing of a security accord. These documents would establish an inviolable principle: the commitment that the territory of one state will never be used to undermine the stability of the other.
Furthermore, General Toumba demanded absolute transparency regarding any foreign military presence located near the frontier, particularly along the Niger River. These requirements were highlighted in a statement broadcast on national television via Télé Sahel.
For several years, officials in Niger have expressed concerns that Bénin might be hosting French military installations near the border, allegations that both Cotonou and Paris have consistently denied.
The border has been obstructed for almost three years, a situation that worsened following the political changes in Niamey in July 2023. At that time, the Nigerien administration accused its neighbor of supporting efforts to destabilize the country with the backing of external powers.
A path toward diplomatic reconciliation
However, a recent diplomatic breakthrough occurred in early June when the President of Bénin, Romuald Wadagni, visited Niger. This visit signaled a cooling of tensions between the two West African neighbors, both of whom are currently facing significant security challenges from extremist groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
General Toumba, a prominent figure in the current Nigerien government, also proposed the immediate operationalization of a bilateral intelligence fusion cell. The objective is to allow the armed forces of Bénin and Niger to coordinate their efforts more effectively, rather than fighting in isolation against mobile threats that ignore national boundaries.