🇳🇪 Major Pipeline projects and coup d'état in Niger

Since the coup in Niger took place, many Western and African nations stared to voice their concern regarding many things: uranium and other resources import from Niger, airspace closure and elongated fly time to and from some countries in different parts of Africa, threat of a second Great war of Africa and deterioration of situation with terrorism, etc.

🔻One of such concerns was voiced regarding the major oil and gas pipeline projects that cross the Nigerien territory or start there. Such major projects are Niger-Benin oil pipeline, Niger-Chad oil pipeline (that connects to the Chad-Cameroon pipeline) and Trans-Saharan gas pipeline. ECOWAS and Western nations were first to voice their concerns with the fate of these projects.

However, just like with the uranium (which continues to be exported from Niger and companies like Orano continue their work in the republic) the situation with pipelines remains the same no matter the coup.

▪️With Niger-Benin pipeline everything is clear. The Benin government itself told that Niger-Benin oil pipeline is not impacted by sanctions, the projects was not abandoned and is still under construction. The most recent news indicate that the pipeline is ready for 75% and should be finished soon.

▪️The situation with Niger-Chad and Trans-Saharan pipelines is different. Many western outlets started to cry that projects are under threat of being canceled. Which is funny, because even before the coup the fate of these projects was a mystery.

The Niger-Chad pipeline is presumed to be shelved, because there were no news since 2019. And in 2019 Chad authorities informed that the project, most likely, was stopped in favour of Niger-Benin pipeline. The official explanation given for the project's "cancellation" was concerns about attacks by Boko Haram in the Lake Chad area.

With the Trans-Saharan gas pipeline the situation almost the same, except that the project was and is in work. The idea of the Trans-Saharan pipeline was first proposed in the 1970s. In 2000s the preparations to build it began. However latest news are from autumn of 2022. And they were about the singing of memorandum of understanding between Nigeria, Niger and Algeria. So the project remained quite vague even before the coup. And there's no confirmation of its cancelation.

🔻All in all, these "concerns" about the major pipeline projects are just another attempt to pressure Niger's military authorities to take a more favorable position in the international relations in order to bargain for better terms with the junta.

The same as with the situation with "invasion" or concerns of toppled president Bazoum's health.

High-res

#Niger #Map

@africaintel

🇬🇭🇳🇪 Ghana opposition is against invasion plans

Opposition lawmakers in Ghana have expressed concern over the Ecowas plans to potentially launch military action in Niger as part of efforts to restore constitutional order in the country. The lawmakers are demanding Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo to immediately stop all preparatory mobilisation towards deploying Ghanaian soldiers.

President Akufo-Addo doesn't have a mandate from the Ghanaian people in this matter. We do not believe a military intervention is the way forward,” Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a member of parliament’s foreign affairs committee told.

The country’s minority lawmakers hold the view that diplomacy and constructive dialogue should be explored.

“Ghana's gallant soldiers must be kept far away from the looming bloodbath and escalating geopolitical confrontation which is bound to explode with far-reaching consequences for stability in an already volatile region,” Ablakwa said.

#Ghana #Niger

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