Benin’s President Patrice Talon reiterated his call on Thursday for Niger’s military rulers to reopen their side of the border to facilitate oil exports through Benin.
Despite Benin easing trade restrictions following sanctions imposed on Niger after the July coup last year, Niger’s authorities have not cooperated to restore formal trade relations.
Talon emphasized the need for Niger to officially exempt oil from the border closure to enable proper customs procedures for oil exports. Niger, a landlocked country, relies on a pipeline running to Benin’s Seme port for its crude oil exports.
Talon has been advocating for formal trade normalization, as the ongoing border closure impacts Benin’s government revenues and food costs.
He stressed that oil exports require recognizing Benin as a partner rather than an enemy, condemning informal border exchanges.
Benin had reopened its border, but Niger’s military leaders have yet to reciprocate. Talon has been a vocal proponent of re-establishing relations to support both countries’ economies.
