Niger Republic has officially reopened its borders with Nigeria in the regions of Diffa, Tahoua, Maradi, and Dosso, marking the end of a closure initiated in the aftermath of the July 26, 2023 coup d’état and subsequent ECOWAS sanctions.
The decision, communicated via a radio message broadcast on social networks by the Nigerien Ministry of Interior, instructed the governors of the border regions to authorize the reopening at precisely 12:00 midnight.
Additionally, the ministry emphasized the need for heightened controls and security measures along the 1,500-kilometer boundary.
While Nigeria had reopened its border weeks earlier following the lifting of ECOWAS sanctions during a summit in Abuja, Niger had delayed reciprocating the gesture.
The uranium-rich nation’s border with its neighbor Benin remains closed on the Niger side, despite Beninese authorities promptly implementing the ECOWAS directive.
Transitional authorities in Niger had previously cited security concerns as the primary reason for not reopening the border with their southern neighbors.
However, with the lifting of sanctions and increased diplomatic efforts, the border reopening signifies a step towards normalized relations between Niger and Nigeria.
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