Niger reopens border with Nigeria

The border between Niger and Nigeria reopened to road traffic on Friday seven months after it was closed following a military coup in Niamey, local people told AFP.

The 1,000-mile (1,600-kilometre) border was closed after West African leaders imposed sanctions on Niger over the ouster of president Mohamed Bazoum.

“The border has been reopened from midnight,” said journalist Daouda Kaka, who is based in Birni N’Konni in the southwest and went to the border Friday.

“Road traffic has resumed in both directions… on the metalled road and customs officers are working,” he added.

Nigeria had last week ordered the frontier immediately reopened, but Niger kept its side closed.

Niger’s interior ministry Thursday told governors of regions bordering Nigeria that the land border would reopen Friday and called for “reinforced security” and checks.

“The reopening of the border is excellent news,” said an elected municipal representative of the Dan Issa community in the south-central Maradi region.

Five of Niger’s eight regions — Zinder, Tahoua, Maradi, Dosso and Diffa — all border Nigeria, a major trading partner for Niamey.

Last month, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) decided to lift the sanctions imposed after the July 26 coup.

In recent days, some services between the neighbours had resumed.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last week called for land and air borders to be reopened and for asset freezes, travel and financial transaction restrictions to be lifted.

Electricity supplies from Nigeria resumed at the start of March, putting an end to the power cuts that had hit Niger since the military came to power.

Niger has still not reopened the border with Benin, Niamey’s main outlet to the sea.