Niger’s military leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, said on Saturday that the country is not yet ready to reopen its border with neighbouring Benin, arguing that unresolved grievances must first be addressed.
Relations between the two West African states have been deeply strained since Niger’s military seized power in July 2023. The border has remained closed for nearly three years, with authorities in Niamey repeatedly accusing Benin of supporting French-backed efforts to destabilise the military government.
A visit to Niger in early June by Benin’s newly elected president, Romuald Wadagni, was seen as a potential breakthrough in the dispute. Both countries are also confronting repeated attacks by armed groups operating across the region.
Speaking in a lengthy interview broadcast by state television to mark the third anniversary of the military takeover, Tiani said reopening the border would require more than diplomatic gestures.
“Much water has flowed under the bridge,” he said. “There are scars and wounds that must be treated and properly healed before an irreversible decision is taken to reopen the border.”
Tiani said both sides had demonstrated willingness to resolve the dispute but added that several conditions still had to be met. He said the final response would depend on discussions between himself and the Beninese president.
The Nigerien leader also argued that any agreement should prevent future leaders in either country from closing the border again for political or personal reasons.
Niamey formally presented its conditions for reopening the crossing in late April during talks in Cotonou between Niger’s interior minister, General Mohamed Toumba, and a committee of experts assigned to the issue.
Niger has demanded the signing of defence and security agreements guaranteeing that neither country’s territory will be used to threaten or carry out hostile actions against the other.