No petroleum products bound for Mali, with the exception of MINUSMA orders, will transit through Niger. This is what emerges from the decision of the Nigerian customs.
Niger’s Director General of Customs announced the suspension of transit authorizations for petroleum products to Mali not destined for the Minusma granted to users. It is through a memo addressed to the various customs units located on the roads leading to Mali.
“I have the honor to inform you of the suspension of transit authorizations for petroleum products on Mali not intended to the Minusma granted to users,” says the document.
Dans la même note, le directeur général des douanes nigériennes annule les autorisations déjà délivrées. « En outre, l’utilisation des autorisations déjà délivrées pour accomplir les formalités de transit des produits pétroliers non destinés à la MINUSMA est suspendue », a-t-il ajouté, avant d’instruire les acteurs concernés à « l’exécution de la présente mesure ».
Although no official reason was given for the decision, it nevertheless comes in a particular context. Indeed, relations between Bamako and other countries in the sub-region have been very tense in recent days. In contrast to Ivory Coast, where 46 soldiers are still being held in Mali, despite endless calls for their release, Niger reacted swiftly to the insults directed at its president by the interim Prime Minister, Colonel Maiga, at the UN tribune last Saturday, September 24. The latter had questioned the identity of the Nigerien president, Mohamed Bazoum, calling him a “foreigner who claims to be from Niger.
