Bénin-Niger border reopening: a relief for both nations, says analyst

Closed for three years, the border between Bénin and Niger may soon reopen. On Saturday, June 20, Niger’s Interior Minister, General Mohamed Toumba, visited Bénin to meet with experts overseeing the border reopening dossier. He laid out three conditions for reopening: signing a defence agreement, a security agreement establishing the inviolable principle of non-use of each other’s territory against the other, and full transparency regarding foreign military assets stationed near the shared border. Political scientist Dr. Guillaume Moumouni provides his analysis.

What are the three conditions, and is Bénin likely to accept them?

This is a normal part of negotiation. In negotiations, each side tries to maximise its expectations before seeing what is acceptable to the partner. Bénin cannot reject the prerequisites in principle, especially since a defence agreement already existed between the two countries before Niger denounced it in September 2023. Regarding transparency, Bénin has repeatedly offered educational explanations to reassure Niger that there are no foreign bases. That second point is mainly a communication effort to reassure Niger – it is fundamentally about territorial integrity. The third precondition is more sensitive and will likely spark further discussions. It does not mean all conditions will be accepted wholesale.

After Romuald Wadagni’s visit to Niger in early June, a committee of experts was tasked with identifying blockages before proposing reopening terms. What are these blockages beyond the three conditions?

One major blockage appears to be Niger’s lack of guarantee that its territory will not be violated by foreign forces. To put it plainly, this mainly concerns France, which has strained relations with the Nigerien government but maintains normal ties—including military cooperation—with Bénin. That is the central sticking point. We are in a security dilemma context. Even though authorities at the highest level in both countries have clearly expressed political will to warm relations and restore diplomatic ties, this issue is not insurmountable. Niger primarily seeks reassurance and verification that no hostile intentions exist along its borders.

The border closure has severely impacted daily life for border communities, truckers using the route, and both economies and security. Isn’t reopening inevitable for both economies and to address some security issues?

This is a crucial point. It is important to clarify on the Nigerien side that the border closure is not solely Bénin’s doing – Niger also shares responsibility. Everyone knows the port of Cotonou is Niger’s natural gateway. The opportunity cost for Niger is extremely high, with significant consequences for both Nigerien and Beninese economies. Both sides have a strong interest in reaching a solution.