The reasons that forced the closure of the border with Benin were explained by the prime minister of Niger’s transitional government, Lamine Zein Ali Mahamane, on May 11, Agence Nigérienne de Presse reports.
Lamine Zein said Niger was forced to close its border with Benin for its own safety. This had to be done despite the historical and age-old ties with the people of Benin.
He pointed out that in Benin there are five training bases for terrorists who intend to enter Niger and destabilize the situation in this country.
The presence of terrorist training bases in Benin is a known and documented fact, Lamin Zein stressed.
“Niger is willing to reopen its border when we are sure that our territory is safe.”He concluded.
Let us remember that Benin was the first to close its border with Niger, acting within the framework of the ECOWAS pressure campaign on this country, where a coup d’état took place in July 2023. Benin later decided to open its borders, but now Niger itself refused to do the same.
To force its neighbor to open its borders, Benin authorities decided to ban the shipment of oil from Niger through a pipeline built by China in its port.
Also read: Benin bans oil shipments from Niger
Source: Rossa Primavera
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