Benin and Niger formalise commitment to reopening shared border

COTONOU, Benin — The governments of Benin and Niger have formally committed to reopening their shared land border, a move officials say will restore critical trade routes, strengthen regional security coordination and deepen bilateral relations. Foreign ministry representatives in both capitals confirmed the agreement, which concludes months of technical talks and establishes a joint framework to reactivate customs processing and cross-border transit.

The decision reverses a prolonged closure that has disrupted commercial flows between the coastal West African state and landlocked Niger. Benin’s Port of Cotonou serves as the primary maritime gateway for Niger’s imports and exports, handling a substantial share of the Sahelian country’s trade volume. Reactivating official crossing points is expected to shorten freight transit times, stabilize agricultural and manufacturing supply chains, and reduce logistical costs accumulated during the suspension. Business chambers in both countries have welcomed the announcement, noting that formalized border access will regularize informal trade networks that sustain frontier economies.