By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Niger’s President Abdourahamane Tchiani says there is no immediate plan to reopen his country’s border with Benin, saying it would remain closed “as long as the security situation does not evolve” on the Beninese side.
The junta leader spoke on Saturday during a rally in Gaya, a town located just a few kilometres from the border.
He accused Benin of hosting French troops on its territory, saying Benin was allowing Western countries to “finance and support terrorism” in order to destabilise the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Benin has repeatedly denied similar allegations in the past raised by Niger’s military authorities.
Tchiani also said opening the border “would mean betraying the aspirations of the Nigerien people.”
The border between Niger and Benin has been closed since July 2023, in the aftermath of the coup that brought Tchiani-led junta government to power.
Tensions have affected human and commercial exchanges between the two countries over the past two years.
Benin invited Burkina Faso and Niger, two members of the AES to participate in the military parade for its national day in August in an attempt to cement relations.
