Niger's Military Leader Sees Need to Heal Past Wounds Before Reopening Benin Border

Abdul Rahman Tiéni, the head of Niger's military council, stated on Saturday that there are "wounds" between Niger and its neighbor Benin that must be "healed" before any decision is taken regarding the reopening of their shared border.

The visit by Benin's new president, Romuald Wadani, to Niger in early June marked a breakthrough in the highly strained relations between the two countries, both of which have faced repeated violence from militants.

The border has been closed for nearly three years, following the military takeover in Niamey in July 2023. The closure occurred amid accusations that Benin was attempting to destabilize the new government with French support.

During an extended interview broadcast on official television on Saturday, marking the third anniversary of his assumption of power, Tiéni said, "Much water has passed under the bridge; there are scars and wounds that require proper healing and treatment before making the irreversible decision to open the border."

He confirmed that both sides have shown readiness and commitment but emphasized that "there are prerequisites," adding that it is up to him and the president of Benin to provide a "response" regarding these conditions.

From his perspective, the reopening of the border must be handled in a way that ensures no president—whether in Benin or Niger—can decide to close it again based on personal whims.

At the end of April, Niamey had already set out prerequisites for reopening the border during a meeting in Cotonou between Niger's Interior Minister, General Mohamed Toumba, and a committee of experts assigned to address the issue.

Niamey demanded the signing of a "defense agreement" and a "security agreement" establishing a firm principle that neither country’s territory would be used against the other.