Niger’s Prime Minister, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zein, criticized Benin’s decision to prevent the export of Nigerien oil through its port, saying it constituted a violation of bilateral agreements between the two countries.

Speaking at a news conference in Niamey, Zain said the decision was putting thousands of jobs and tax revenues at risk.

Zein pointed out that security reasons are behind keeping the common border with Benin closed, pointing to the presence of French bases in Benin that may harbor terrorists targeting Niger’s stability.

For his part, Beninese President Patrice Talon called on Niger to reopen borders and normalize bilateral relations, stressing that this depends on Niamey’s desire to export oil through the port of Simi Kabodji.

It should be noted that these differences come in the context of the restoration of relations between the two countries after a period of political turmoil in the region, as Benin reopened its border with Niger after announcing the end of sanctions imposed by ECOWAS over the military coup in Niger.

But Niger has kept its borders closed and has previously accused Benin of "seeking to undermine its security" in cooperation with France, which is contesting its last African colony after the rise of national liberation movements.

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Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has hinted at the possibility of closing the French military bases in Senegal as part of achieving greater strategic independence and strengthening national sovereignty.

More than sixty years after independence, Sonko said, "we must ask why the French army still benefits from numerous military bases on our soil," explaining that this affects "our strategic independence and national sovereignty."

Senegal "aspires to take full control of its territory", which contradicts the permanent presence of foreign military bases, he said.

The existence of defense agreements with several States did not justify the continued occupation of one third of the Dakar region by foreign garrisons.

Sonko's remarks come in the context of a regional trend towards reassessing relations with foreign powers, with neighboring countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger expelling French troops from their territories and turning to Russia to help fight terrorist groups.

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