After three years of closure, the Niger-Benin border is poised for a significant shift. The recent visit of Nigerien Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine to Cotonou last Sunday, where he attended the inauguration of the new Beninese Head of State, Romuald Wadagni, has re-established a direct political channel between Niamey and Cotonou. Addressing his hosts, the Nigerien head of government spoke of a “new path” for the two nations, a diplomatic overture signaling the potential for a thaw following an open crisis that erupted after the July 2023 coup d’état.
The Malanville border post, a crucial commercial gateway linking the two states, was shut down in the wake of sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) against Niger’s military government. Consequently, the flow of hydrocarbons, foodstuffs, and various goods was rerouted through Burkina Faso and Togo, leading to a substantial increase in logistical expenses for businesses on both sides of the frontier.
Economic rift: severe repercussions for both nations
The port of Cotonou historically served as a vital maritime outlet for Niger’s landlocked economy. Its exclusion has significantly impacted Beninese customs revenues and complicated supply chains for Niamey, particularly after the commissioning of the crude oil export pipeline connecting Agadem to Benin’s Sèmè-Kpodji terminal. A dispute surrounding this critical infrastructure, operated in partnership with the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), further intensified the mistrust between the two capitals in 2024.
For communities residing near the border, the closure has caused severe economic hardship, stifling commercial activities in areas heavily reliant on transit trade. Informal operators, including transporters and traders, resorted to using secondary routes to circumvent the closure, fueling an unregulated parallel market. Economist Olivier Vallée, who previously advised Niger, has highlighted that an official reopening would provide immediate relief for households on both sides of the divide.
Security concerns at the heart of hesitations
Despite the economic pressures, security remains a primary point of contention. Beninese authorities are grappling with an increase in armed group activity, including elements affiliated with the Islamic State in the Sahel and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), particularly in the northern regions and within the W and Pendjari national parks. Cotonou fears that an uncontrolled reopening of the Malanville post could facilitate the movement of combatants and resupply logistical networks for cells entrenched in the tri-border area.
Conversely, Niger harbors symmetrical suspicions. The transitional authorities accuse Benin of having permitted the presence of elements hostile to the military government on its territory following the 2023 coup. Niamey has repeatedly alleged that Cotonou hosts training bases, claims that Beninese authorities have consistently denied. This pervasive climate of mutual suspicion explains why, as some observers suggest, both sides remain wary of infiltrations, whether jihadist or political in nature.
Conditional path to normalization
The assumption of the Beninese presidency by Romuald Wadagni partially reconfigures the situation. As a former Minister of Finance well-regarded by international donors, he inherits a dossier where strong economic imperatives advocate for rapid de-escalation. The full resumption of Nigerien crude oil exports through the Beninese terminal represents a financial stake of several hundred billion CFA francs annually for both national treasuries.
Nevertheless, the precise timeline for reopening remains unclear. Several technical stages are anticipated, including the establishment of enhanced control protocols at Malanville, the potential reactivation of a joint security commission, and clarification on the status of nationals from both countries stranded since 2023. Niger’s withdrawal from ECOWAS alongside Mali and Burkina Faso to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), further complicates institutional dynamics, even as Niamey seeks renewed regional cooperation. The gesture made in Cotonou stands as the most tangible political signal since the crisis began.