Niger / Diplomacy: Two former Presidents of Benin received by President Abdourahamane Tiani
Recently, tensions between Benin and Niger have escalated due to President Patrice Talon’s imprudent alignment with French neocolonialism in crafting projects aimed at reinstating former President Bazoum, a member of their faction loyal to France, into power.
In an effort to salvage what remains, two former Presidents, Dieudonné Soglo and Boni Yayi, visited Niamey on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, seeking to ease the situation and, where possible, preserve the longstanding fraternal, economic, and diplomatic relations between Benin and Niger.
They were received by the President of the National Council for Patriotic Salvation (CNSP) and Head of State, Brigadier General Abdourahamane Tiani, at his office.
Discussions between the Nigerien Head of State and these two former Beninese Presidents focused primarily on the current situation between the two countries, particularly regarding the dispute over the loading of the ship intended to transport Niger’s crude oil to the international market.
These exchanges took place in the presence of Niger’s Transitional Prime Minister, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, Brigadier General Mohamed Toumba, Minister of State for Interior, Public Security, and Territorial Administration, and Dr. Soumana Boubacar, Chief of Staff to the CNSP President.
President Nicéphore Dieudonné Soglo and Thomas Yayi Boni are esteemed friends of Niger, extending Benin’s fraternal hand to promote genuine reconciliation between the two African sibling states.
They aim to counter the efforts of neo-imperialists and neocolonialists who seek to sow division to the detriment of the higher interests of both sovereign African peoples.
Here’s to hoping that the efforts undertaken by these two former Beninese Presidents will succeed for the mutual benefit of both peoples.
Neil CAMARA
