NIAMEY, Niger — Niger’s president Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani announced this weekend that the country’s border with Benin will remain closed “as long as the security situation does not evolve” on the Beninese side.
Speaking at a rally in Gaya, a town near the frontier, Tchiani accused Benin of hosting French troops and claimed Western countries were financing terrorism to destabilize the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — the military bloc formed by Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali. Benin has repeatedly denied these allegations.
Political Messaging
Tchiani told supporters that reopening the border “would mean betraying the aspirations of the Nigerien people.” His remarks reflect the junta’s broader anti-French stance and its effort to consolidate legitimacy more than two years after the coup that ousted former president Mohamed Bazoum.
Impact of Closure
The border has been shut since July 2023, following the military takeover. The closure has disrupted:
- Trade flows between Niger and Benin
- Human exchanges for families and communities living across the frontier
- Regional diplomacy, with Benin’s attempts at reconciliation — such as inviting Niger and Burkina Faso to its national day parade in August — rejected.
Regional Context
Niger has faced terrorism across nearly all its regions for more than a decade. The AES alliance was created to coordinate military and political responses, but relations with coastal neighbors like Benin remain tense.