Ghanaians, Nigerians, 2 other West African nationals banned from entering Niger – report

A report from a Beninese news portal, 24heures Au Benin, has indicated that five nationals from various West African countries have been banned from entering the Republic of Niger by the military junta in Niamey.

The affected countries include Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Benin, and Ivory Coast. The ban means that citizens from these countries will not be able to cross Niger’s borders until further notice. According to the report, nationals from these countries who attempted to enter Niger have been repatriated after police checks.

The report cited Beninese victims of the new order, revealing that about 300 nationals were repatriated on Sunday, August 27, 2023. These individuals had boarded a taxi in Gaya, Niger, and were stopped by Nigerien police officers who checked their documents and luggage. The security agents informed them that citizens of Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria were not permitted to enter Niger.

This ban comes in the wake of the coup d’etat that took place on July 26, 2023, which resulted in the overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum in Niger. In response to the coup, Benin, like other member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), imposed border closure measures as part of sanctions against the junta. This border closure has disrupted trade, particularly affecting countries like Ghana, where onion importers have suffered losses due to the closures.

Benin shares a border with Niger, as does Burkina Faso. Interestingly, the military junta in Niger has kept its borders open with Burkina Faso and has even supplied them with essential goods that they are not receiving from other neighboring countries.

ECOWAS has been engaging in diplomatic efforts to persuade the junta to return power to civilian authorities, although they have not ruled out the use of force as a last resort.

–The Post Ghana