The Beninese authorities are not giving up in the standoff between them and the government of Niger in the matter of the export of Nigerien oil. Through the Court for the Repression of Economic Offenses and Terrorism (CRIET), they tried and sentenced on Monday Nigerien citizens arrested at the Sèmè-Podji oil terminal a few days ago. This conviction reinforces the enmities between the two border countries which have been at odds since the coup in Niger.
A total of 3 Nigeriens were sentenced to 18 months in prison following a trial in which the debate was very heated.
The suspects were among the 5 people arrested on June 9 by the Beninese police, while they were witnessing the loading of Nigerien oil at the port of Sèmé-Kpodji.
The general prosecutor of CRIET of Benin accused the five Nigerien nationals of having “fraudulently” entered the site. They were then accused of endangering state security since they were suspected by the prosecutor of being Nigerien agents in the service of the National Council for the Protection of the Homeland (CNSP).
The 18 months in prison held against them were requested by the public prosecutor. The prosecution also requested a reclassification of the facts against the Deputy General Director of Wapco Niger, Hadiza MOUMOUNI.
From now on, according to the latter’s request, the general director of Wapco is being prosecuted for complicity in the use of false certificates. The public prosecutor particularly focused on the information mentioned on the badges which were allegedly counterfeit.
A conflict over Nigerien oil
Relations between Niger and Benin have been tense since the coup d’état of July 26, with the closure of the common border between the two countries following sanctions from the Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS).
Accusing Benin of hosting military bases on its territory, Niger refused to open its border after the lifting of ECOWAS sanctions.
In interviews given to certain foreign media, Beninese and French officials denied any presence of French military bases in Benin.
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