A prosecutor in Benin said authorities had detained on Wednesday five Niger nationals for allegedly entering Benin's Seme-Kpodji pipeline terminal under false pretences, deepening a dispute over exports of crude oil from Niger via Benin.
In a statement on Thursday, special prosecutor Mario Metonou said the group had entered the terminal clandestinely and accused at least two of the detainees of being agents of Niger's ruling military junta.
"Investigations are ongoing to determine the real motives ... in a context where recurring information suggests the planning of acts against the security of the state of Benin," Metonou said.
On Thursday, Niger's Oil Minister Mahamane Moustapha Barke Bako rejected the prosecutor's allegations, telling a press conference in Niamey that those arrested were inspectors supervising the loading of crude oil in line with an agreement with Benin.
Relations between the West African neighbours have been strained since Benin blocked crude exports via its port from landlocked Niger in May, demanding the junta reopen its border to Benin's goods and normalise relations before shipments can restart.
On May 15, Benin provisionally reversed the export block and agreed to hold a meeting between the two countries, but a long-term solution has not yet been agreed.
At the Niamey press conference, Nigerien Justice Minister said they would refer the issue to the arbitration court of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa.
The tensions go back to the July 2023 coup in Niger, which led the regional bloc ECOWAS to impose strict sanctions for more than six months.
Trade flows in the region were expected to normalise after the bloc lifted sanctions, but Niger has kept its borders closed to goods from Benin.
Latest Stories
-
Jospong Group and ISSER forge partnership to strengthen social and economic research in Ghana
3 seconds -
Food service establishments to apply for advertisement approval from FDA
38 seconds -
Tracey Grey releases new song ‘Dangerous’
5 mins -
McDan Group CEO unveils vision for African Logistics Transformation at CILT conference
11 mins -
CAF Awards 2024: No Kudus and Victor Boniface as full list of nominees revealed
19 mins -
AfESC partners with UESD for environmental research collaboration
25 mins -
James Gardener and I are good friends – Benedicta Gafah denies dating rumours
35 mins -
UN@79: Ghana calls for peaceful settlement to ongoing conflicts around the world
38 mins -
Volta Regional Health Director calls for enhanced sub-district healthcare at GPAA’s 21st Annual Conference
43 mins -
Deputy Tano North Chief Imam urges stakeholders to cooperate with EC for successful Election 2024
48 mins -
Independent presidential candidate proposes new economic development model for Ghana
51 mins -
Greater Accra House of Chiefs elects Nungua Mantse as new President
55 mins -
Bank of Ghana hosts high-level Fintech networking event in Washington DC
1 hour -
Cholera outbreak claims two lives in Ada
1 hour -
We’re putting in place structures to govern this country – NDC’s Beatrice Annan
2 hours