The fallout from sanctions against Niamey over the July coup included trucks stuck at Benin's closed border with Niger in September. He said he had not "failed to address, in a discreet and repeated way, messages to these brotherly nations, notably Niger" where president Mohamad Bazoum was overthrown in July. Benin has seen a fall in revenues after the transport of goods to Niger via its ports was halted. The export of Niger crude through the nearly 2,000-kilometre-long (1,200-mile) oil pipeline is due to begin in January. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed the heavy economic and financial sanctions against Niger and cut off trade after the July 26 coup.

Source: Daily Nation December 21, 2023 13:15 UTC