The Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, has strongly condemned Benin’s blockade of Niger’s oil exports, arguing that it breaches several trade agreements between the two nations and their Chinese partners. This blockade halts Niger's plans to begin exporting crude oil through a pipeline linked to Benin's port in Cotonou, jeopardizing a critical $400 million deal with China National Petroleum Corporation. The dispute has worsened after Niger’s refusal to reopen its border with Benin, citing security concerns, particularly the alleged presence of terrorist training camps in Benin. Zeine emphasized that such unilateral actions by Benin, without consent from all parties involved, violate the agreements in place, which are vital to Niger's economic future
