The Military authorities in Niger Republic have confirmed the sabotage of an oil pipeline carrying crude oil to neighbouring Benin after insurgents seeking the release of the country’s president claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Patriotic Liberation Front, which is agitating for the release of former president Mohamed Bazoum – who was ousted in a coup last year, said it was behind the attack earlier this week.
It threatened to hit oil installations and called on the Chinese companies that run the pipeline to end their support for the junta.
It is the latest setback to hit the newly opened 2,000km pipeline as diplomatic relations between Niger and Benin worsen.
AFP news reports that public prosecutor Ousmane Baydo said:
“We know which group is the author of the act [and which also] claimed [it].”
State-run broadcaster Tele Sahel televised on Friday evening, the damage in Niger’s southern Zinder region, with an oil spill stretching out into the bush.
The pipeline, which is a critical oil infrastructure was formally inaugurated last year and connects Niger’s Agadem oilfield to Benin’s coast.
Last year’s military takeover, followed by regional sanctions imposed on Niger has placed its future in jeopardy.
In February, the regional bloc ECOWAS agreed to lift them and borders were allowed to be reopened.
Benin’s economy had also been affected by trade block and was anxious for imports and exports to resume.
However, Niger decided to keep its borders closed to goods from Benin, alleging its neighbour was hosting French forces that were training others to destabilise Niger.
The junta in Niger is suspicious of France and has established closer ties with Russia since coming to power. It sent out French forces who had been in the West African state on the pretext of fighting militant terrorists threatening stability across the region.
France says such assumptions are spurious and unfounded, since it had no military bases in Benin.
Benin then blocked Niger’s inaugural oil exports due to Niger’s refusal to reopen the land border – which usually had trucks driving back and forth, loaded with merchandise.
China stepped into ease tensions, and Niger managed to join the world of oil exporters, its first batch of crude leaving Benin at the end of May.
Earlier this month, five Niger nationals were arrested at an oil port in Benin on impersonation charges and a loading of second crude shipment was reportedly aborted.
Three of the Nigeriens were handed 18 months suspended sentences – while all of them, who worked for the Chinese oil firm running the pipeline, were expelled and flown to Niamey on Friday.