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Benin obstructs Niger oil exports over border dispute

Benin has obstructed exports of oil from Niger by means of its port, President Patrice Talon said on Wednesday, requiring juntaled Niger reopen its border to Beninois items and normalise relations before crude deliveries can reboot.

The relocation jeopardises landlocked Niger's strategy to start exports from its Agadem oilfield under a memorandum of comprehending signed last month with Chinese state-owned oil huge China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) worth $400 million.

Trade flows in the region were expected to normalise after the West African regional bloc lifted in February rigorous sanctions on Niger as it sought to discourage it and junta-led neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso from withdrawing from the political and economic union.

But Niger has kept its borders near to products from Benin and not officially told Benin why it has actually done so, Talon said in a. declaration.

If you wish to load your oil ... in our waters, then you. should not see Benin as an enemy, he said.

If tomorrow the Nigerien authorities decide to work together. officially with Benin, the ships will be packed..

(source: Reuters)