The decision to prohibit shipments of crude oil from Niger via its port has been temporarily overturned by Benin, and the two nations have agreed to convene a meeting, Samou Seidou Adambi, the mining minister of Benin, said on Wednesday.
"We have decided to authorize the loading of the first vessel in our waters. [...] However, it is important to note that this authorization is provisional," the minister said.
Relations between Benin and Niger deteriorated when the Economic Community of West African States closed Niger's land and air borders in an attempt to persuade the military administration, which seized power in a coup last July, to return to democratic governance. The restrictions were withdrawn earlier this year, but Niger's land border with Benin is apparently still closed.
Niger's Prime Minister, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, stated last Saturday that Benin's suspension of Niger's oil shipments breached bilateral trade agreements as well as those with Niger's Chinese partners.
He also said that Niger could not completely reopen its border with Benin due to security concerns. According to Zeine, certain French bases stationed in Benin "train terrorists," who then come to "destabilize" Niger.
The longest pipeline in Africa, 1,950 km long, runs through the two West African countries. It is operated by PetroChina, a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation, and is expected to export 90,000 barrels per day, of which 25.4% will be received by Niger, according to the country's leader, Abdourahamane Tiani.