Niger Reopens Border With Nigeria

Niger Republic has reopened its border with Nigeria in the regions of Dosso, Diffa, Maradi and Tahoua.

The land border between the two countries was closed as a result of the coup d’état on July 26 and the subsequent sanctions by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The Nigerien Ministry of Interior was said to have issued instructions to the governors of these border regions on Thursday, to allow the reopening at exactly 12:00 midnight through a radio message broadcast on social networks.

Additionally, the ministry has mandated the governors to enhance controls and security measures along the 1,500-kilometre stretch of the land boundary.

While Nigeria had already opened its border weeks ago after the lifting of ECOWAS sanctions, Niger had not reciprocated the action until now.

However, the border with Benin, a country rich in uranium, remains closed on the Niger side despite Beninese authorities promptly implementing the ECOWAS directive.

The transitional authorities in Niger had previously cited security concerns as the reason for not reopening the border with their southern neighbours.