Africa
Truck Blockade At Benin-Niger Border Amidst Post-Coup Turmoil
We’re asking the African population to sort out their problems, to let us through – we’ll unload our luggage, turn around and go back to our families in peace, as we should.
Following the recent coup, the border town of Malanville, connecting Benin and Niger, is confronted with a growing predicament. A standstill lasting over a week has immobilized more than a hundred trucks destined for Niger.
The catalyst for this blockade is Benin’s compliance with an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) directive, resulting in the closure of the border with Niger. Within this border community, transporters are voicing their deep-seated distress, as the unrelenting consequences of the closure exact a heavy toll on their means of making a living.
“When you’re parked like that, the (validity if the) insurance runs out every day, the technical inspection too, the papers are running out” says Ousmane Ouataro, truck driver on his way to Niger. “Let’s not even talk about the food here. How much are you going to eat in two weeks? The apprentices, you have two apprentices, they’re going to spend 1,000 CFA francs a day (about 1.52 euros, ed) on food.” Ouataro added.
In an interview with Bip Radio on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, Rabiou Garba, the President of the Syndicat des transporteurs et des importateurs nouveaux associés du Bénin (Syntra-Inab), shed light on the dire situation.
He disclosed, “A significant number of trucks have come to a halt at Kandi, as the capacity of the Malanville fleet is limited to 200 trucks.” Garba emphasized, “We’re talking about 600 trucks here, and each truck often carries not just one, but even two containers, exacerbating the situation. The resulting backlog is of colossal proportions, amounting to billions.”
Issiaka Bassé, a truck diver on the way to Niger also laments the situation. “We left our families to go and get something to eat to feed our families. We don’t know what’s going on. We’re stuck here. We’re going on about 16 days today. We’re asking the African population to sort out their problems, to let us through – we’ll unload our luggage, turn around and go back to our families in peace, as we should.”
During an emergency summit held in the Nigerian capital of Abuja on Thursday, the West African bloc made a significant decision. They sanctioned the deployment of a “standby force to restore constitutional order” in Niger, marking a concerted effort to address the prevailing situation.
However, the planned gathering of defense chiefs scheduled for Saturday, August 12, has been put on hold.