[1] On December 10, 2023, ECOWAS maintained sanctions against Niger and demanded a return to constitutional order by reinstating President Bazoum to power.
Several commercial and transit hubs in Niger, including Gaya, experienced drastic declines in business activity and significant inflation of everyday goods and widely consumed food commodities, with a lack of trucks coming in from Benin forcing traders to use insufficient river transport methods.
Zeine claimed that French military troops and terrorists were being trained for missions to destabilize the country, stating that they would reopen the border once they were certain their territory was safe.
Beninese investigators reported that at least two of the trespassers were Nigerien National Council for the Safeguarding of the Fatherland agents, with plans to "undermine the security of the State of Benin".
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) revised Benin's projected growth rate from 6% to 5.4% for 2023, citing the border closure as a key factor.
[9] In response to economic downturn, Nigerien authorities implemented reforms to reduce taxes and duties on imported products, aiming to lower market prices.