Niger starts exporting oil via Benin
The President of the ruling CNSP, General Abdourahamane Tiani, announced the commencement of crude oil exports starting January 2024 during a national television address on Sunday, December 10, 2023. Niger’s valuable mining resource will be transported from the Agadem region in the southeast of the country to Benin through a 2,000 km-long pipeline inaugurated in November.
The CNSP President declared that Niger’s oil would soon be available on the international market, with commercialization set to begin in January 2024.
The Agadem pipeline, a costly infrastructure connecting Niger to Benin via Sèmè, is already in operation for the transportation of crude oil.
The Agadem pipeline is expected to export around 110,000 barrels per day starting January 2024, according to forecasts.
Despite the diplomatic crisis between Niger and Benin leading to the closure of their common border, it is unlikely to disrupt oil exports.
Despite ECOWAS sanctions, crude oil exports allow Abdourahamane Tiani to alleviate pressure and support his people, collaborating with Benin while maintaining full control of its export.
During the official inauguration of the pipeline last November, Niger’s Prime Minister stated that revenue from crude oil exploitation would be used to ensure the sovereignty and development of Niger.
In addition to crude oil exports, Niger is considering the establishment of a refinery to process oil locally, adding further value to the country’s natural resources.
In an unexpectedly strong position, General Abdourahamane Tiani can now assert his legitimacy with ECOWAS and the international community to definitively turn the page on the BAZOUM era.
However, ECOWAS remains firm in its stance. During the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government conference on Sunday, December 10, the organization confirmed the maintenance of sanctions on Niger, in effect since July 30, marking the fall of Mohamed BAZOUM.
The Heads of State remained resolute on the release of Mohamed BAZOUM as a sine qua non condition for lifting any sanctions.
Despite the toughened stance in Niamey, ECOWAS persists and charges the presidents of Togo, Benin, and Sierra Leone with mediating with the CNSP to try to establish the framework for the transition.
However, the CNSP in power in Niamey remains equally uncompromising regarding the release of Mohamed Bazoum and his associates.
Facing a Niger becoming an oil exporter and in the process of restoring its international image, ECOWAS, if it survives, will likely continue to linger in a position that still cannot digest «the fall of Bazoum».
This situation suggests that ECOWAS is straying from its values and imploding slowly.
Fayçal BADIE
