Niger’s oil minister, Mahamane Moustapha Barke Bako, announced the suspension of oil exports to China on Thursday, escalating tensions with neighboring Benin.
The move comes amidst a prolonged standoff between the two West African nations.
Bako oversaw the closure of a section of the 2,000-kilometer pipeline that transports Niger’s oil to Benin’s coast for export to China.
This action disrupts a $400 million memorandum of understanding with China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC).
The dispute stems from Benin’s decision in May to block crude oil exports from landlocked Niger through its port.
Benin demands the junta in Niger reopen the border to its goods and normalize relations.
Further straining relations, Benin detained five Niger nationals in June for allegedly entering a pipeline terminal under false pretenses.
Niger denies the claims, stating the group was present to supervise oil loading as per the agreement with Benin.
Minister Bako justified the halt in oil flow by citing concerns of oil theft in his televised address.
He expressed frustration at not being able to monitor the loading process at the Beninese terminal.
The current tensions have roots in the July 2023 coup d’état in Niger.
The regional bloc ECOWAS imposed sanctions on Niger for over six months following the coup.
While sanctions lifted in April, Niger has maintained its border closure to Beninese goods, hindering a return to normalcy in trade between the two countries.
