Former Beninese presidents are staying in Niamey to try to ease tension with neighboring Niger.
The President of the Transition, Brigadier General Abdourahamane Tiani, met on Tuesday June 25, 2024 in Niamey with the former presidents of Benin Nicéphore Soglo and Boni Yayi.
The Niger News Agency reported that the discussions concerned the current situation between Niger and Benin regarding the transport of Nigerien crude oil to the international market.
The discussions took place in the presence of the Transitional Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, Brigadier General Mohamed Toumba, the Minister of State in charge of the Interior, as well as Dr Soumana Boubacar, Minister Director of Cabinet of the President of the Republic.
Former Beninese presidents have been in Niamey since Monday June 24 to mediate in the crisis between Niamey and Cotonou.
At the beginning of June, a team of five WAPCO-Niger agents, on an official mission to assist in the loading of the tanker intended to transport crude oil from Niger to the international market, was arrested and imprisoned by the Beninese authorities. They were tried and convicted.
Following this arrest, Niger closed its floodgates and demanded that Benin respect the bilateral agreement concerning the transport of hydrocarbons by pipeline.
Since this incident, Niamey has been considering using the Chad pipeline to export its oil.
