The two neighbors had tense relations after Mohamed Bazoum, the elected president of Niger, was overthrown in a military coup in July 2023.
Benin has called for a Nigerien envoy “for clarifications” in response to comments made by the country’s military leader accusing its neighbor of being involved in terrorist activities.
In an interview broadcast on Niger State television last Wednesday, General Abdourahamane Tiani charged that Benin was acting as a terrorist rear base and attempting to destabilize his nation.
According to a diplomatic source who spoke to AFP, Beninese Foreign Minister Olushegun Bakari addressed his Nigerien colleague a formal letter of protest on the remarks on Tuesday.
“The Chargé d’affaires of Niger has been summoned due to the baseless accusations made against our country,” the Beninese Foreign Ministry announced on X.
The diplomat was given to Bakari “for clarifications”.
“Benin remains committed to dialogue and to fraternal collaboration between the two nations,” the foreign ministry of Benin stated on X.
Every West African nation has appointed a new ambassador to the other.
Since the former head of the presidential guard, General Tiani, took over in a military coup in July 2023, tensions have existed between the two neighbors.
Conflicts over the opening of their common border and the export of oil from landlocked Niger via the Beninese coast erupted, but in recent months, there have been increasing indications of reconciliation.
Frequent accusations by Niger that neighboring Benin harbors “French bases” are refuted by France and Beninese authorities.
Niger has developed stronger ties with neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali, both of which are run by military administrations that were overthrown in coups, notwithstanding its animosity with Benin.
