An alarming situation is emerging as a result of recent developments arising from the Niger coup, including the shutting down of borders by countries sharing territories with Niger.

0

Reports reveal that a staggering amount of approximately GHC 45 million worth of onions remain stranded and rotting at the border. This is due to the fact that over 100 trucks carrying bags of the commodity have all been locked up in Malanville, the border town between Benin and Niger.

1

It started with the ruling National Council for the Protection of the Country (Conseil national pour la sauvegarde de la patrie, CNSP) announcing the closure of Niger's airspace to all aircraft until further notice on Aug. 6, 2023, citing the threat of military intervention from neighboring countries.

2

The move came amid the expiration of a deadline imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that demanded that the country's junta step down and release and reappoint deposed President Mohamed Bazoum.

3

While ECOWAS had reportedly considered military intervention in Niger if the CNSP did not comply with their demands by the Aug. 6 deadline, the regional bloc's next planned steps were not immediately clear following the deadline's expiration.

4

Before the Aug. 6 declaration, the coup leaders had announced the reopening of land and air borders with Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali, and Chad from Aug. 1; the borders with Benin and Nigeria have remained officially closed.

5

Over a week ago, leaders of ECOWAS, a 15-member regional bloc, and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) decided to impose economic and financial sanctions to Niger in response to the unconstitutional power change.

6

Benin has insisted that diplomacy is the preferred solution to managing the crisis caused by the military coup in Niger.

7

The country's foreign minister, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, told reporters his country was demanding the immediate release and reinstatement of President Bazoum.

8

Bakari also pledged his full support for efforts by the west African bloc ECOWAS to resolve the ongoing crisis, as result, Benin has also initiated a border closer to Niger.

9

The blockade has been going on for over a week, with Benin having closed its border with Niger in accordance with one of the decisions taken by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

10

This development has largely impacted various activities, especially trade activities on the bloc. Countries are reporting huge losses and businesses are crying out as the disruptions in supply chains and trade channels reverberate across the global economic landscape. Transporters in the border town are also lamenting that they have been hard hit.

11

One of the traders confessed to selling a bag of onion which on a usual day would be sold at GHC1,500, for GHC200.

12

13

“We can’t do anything. If nothing is done about the situation, we will lose our capital and we will have to go in for a loan,” he lamented.

14

The traders are therefore appealing to ECOWAS to rescind their decision and reopen the border.

15

16