Niger’s transitional leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, has ruled out reopening the country’s border with Benin, insisting the crossing will remain shut until what he described as security shortcomings on the Beninese side are resolved.
The announcement came during a rally in the border town of Gaya, where the president also commended Niger’s Defense and Security Forces for their ongoing efforts in the Sahel.
Tiani told supporters that reopening the border under current conditions would run counter to national interests. He accused Benin of enabling foreign interference by hosting French and Belgian military personnel and alleged that Western powers were using Benin as a platform for actions aimed at destabilizing Sahelian states.
He also recalled the withdrawal of French troops from Niger last year, noting that some forces exited through Benin.
Tiani referenced the presence of the French naval vessel Tonnerre at the port of Cotonou, claiming it carried “thousands of French soldiers.”
The remarks follow Benin’s recent attempt to ease tensions with members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Tiani urged Niger’s armed forces to remain alert, warning that militant groups were capable of exploiting lapses in vigilance.
He called on troops to draw strength from the country’s history of resistance as Niger navigates heightened tensions in the Sahel.
