Benin Lifts Blockade Preventing Niger’s Oil Export to China

The Republic of Benin has resolved its commerce dispute with its neighbor, the Republic of the Niger, following the intervention of the Chinese language authorities. Tensions between the 2 international locations started final 12 months after Niger’s ruling junta ousted the nation’s democratically elected president. Following Beninese protests towards Niger’s coupists, the junta’s leaders directed the closure of the nation’s borders. Niger is a landlocked nation and, earlier than the border closure, moved most of its imports by means of Benin. When the junta closed Niger’s borders, the transfer affected Benin which earned a major share of its income from the association. Benin needs Niger to reopen its borders for commerce and demanded the identical after ECOWAS lifted sanctions towards Niger in February. To press house its level, Benin blocked Niger’s oil exports to China, which traveled by way of a newly constructed pipeline to Benin’s port of Cotonou. Following Chinese language mediation, each international locations have lastly resolved the dispute.SOURCE: DW