The export of Niger’s oil through Benin is expected to resume in the coming days after a suspension that began in June. The suspension was primarily due to diplomatic tensions between the two countries, mainly surrounding the reopening of their shared border, which has been closed for over a year.

Local media from Benin reported on August 18 that oil shipments from the Seme-Kpodji terminal in Benin are set to begin again soon. According to sources close to the situation, the oil tanker Aura M arrived in Beninese territorial waters a few days earlier. The tanker is expected to transport a total of 1 million barrels of crude oil to the international market.

As a reminder, tensions between the two nations escalated a few weeks ago when Benin arrested five Nigerien nationals working for the West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo), the Chinese company that operates the Niger-Benin pipeline. This incident led Niger to suspend its oil shipments through Benin.

The news of the imminent resumption of oil exports comes shortly after Benin officially accredited Niger’s ambassador, ending over a year of diplomatic conflict. Analysts view this development as a positive step towards normalizing diplomatic relations between the two countries, which have been strained in recent months over the closed border.

For context, Benin initially closed its border with Niger under the direction of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) following the rise to power of Niger’s National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) on July 26, 2023.