Niger’s military leader has appointed a new ambassador to Benin, indicating a possible easing of tensions between the two West African countries, as reported in a decree released on Wednesday.
General Abdourahamane Tiani appointed Chaibou Kadade as the ambassador, with the decree being signed on Tuesday and published in Niger’s government newspaper, Le Sahel. Benin had granted authorisation for the diplomat’s appointment in October.
Relations between the two nations had soured following the military coup that displaced Niger’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, in July 2023.
A conflict arose regarding Niger’s oil exports through the Beninese coast and disagreements concerning the reopening of their shared border, with tensions increasing after May 2024.
However, in recent months, indications of a potential reconciliation have emerged. In mid-November, Benin eased its border controls to facilitate the movement of people and certain goods to and from Niger, although Niger continues to keep its border closed.
Two months prior, in August, Benin’s new envoy to Niger, Gildas Djobloski Agonkan, began his duties in Niamey. This development followed the West African regional group ECOWAS lifting sanctions on Niger in February, which allowed Benin to begin normalising relations with Niamey.
Despite this, Niger has declined to reopen its side of the border with Benin, accusing its neighbour of providing refuge for French bases that aim to “destabilise” Niger. Both Benin and France, the former colonial power, reject these allegations.
Frictions also arose due to Benin’s halt in authorising the loading of Nigerien oil at the Seme-Kpodji port. The oil was being transported along a substantial pipeline operated by the Chinese firm WAPCO to the Beninese coast.
This pipeline and the oil it transports are crucial to the economies of both Niger and Benin.
