Niger : Benin announces support measures for Nigerien importers
Will trade relations between Benin and Niger soon get back on track ? In any case, that’s what the port authorities of Benin are hoping for, as they have recently implemented supportive measures to facilitate the removal of goods blocked at the Autonomous Port of Cotonou during the embargo imposed on Niger by ECOWAS, following the coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
Benin aims to restore good commercial relations with Niger. Following the reopening of land borders with the country following the partial lifting of sanctions by ECOWAS, the country of Patrice Talon announces a number of measures in favor of economic operators.
In a circular note made public on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, the Director-General of the Autonomous Port of Cotonou informed about the new measures taken to ease the conditions for the removal of goods destined for Niger and blocked on the port platform.
These measures, already implemented, have led to a considerable reduction in the number of containers blocked at the Port of Cotonou destined for Niger, which decreased from 20.000 containers in October 2023 to approximately 2.400 containers to date.
It should be noted that after the lifting of sanctions imposed on Niger by ECOWAS, the customs services of Benin are now available for the declaration of goods destined for Niger.
Benin is one of the countries in the sub-region that rigorously applied the sanctions against Niamey following the coup carried out by the CNSP against the Bazoum regime. After months of closure, President Patrice Talon backtracks, acknowledging that ECOWAS went too far against the country, and announcing the suspension of certain measures including the reopening of the port of Cotonou to Nigerien economic operators, and the border with Niger.
