Erdoğan hosts Niger’s president in Ankara

ANKARA

Niger’s President Abdourahamane Tchiani arrived in Ankara on June 4 for talks with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation and discussing regional and international developments.

Tchiani was welcomed with an official ceremony at the Presidential Complex in the Turkish capital. The two leaders are expected to hold one-on-one and delegation-level meetings before overseeing the signing of bilateral agreements and addressing the media.

According to Turkish officials, the talks are set to focus on strengthening ties between Türkiye and Niger and reviewing cooperation in a range of areas, including security, trade and development. The leaders were also expected to exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual concern.

The visit comes as relations between Ankara and Niamey have grown closer in recent years, particularly in the fields of defense and security. Türkiye has expanded its diplomatic, economic and military footprint across Africa, while Niger has sought new international partnerships following political changes in the country since 2023.

Tchiani, a former head of Niger’s presidential guard who led the 2023 coup that ousted elected President Mohamed Bazoum, was sworn in as Niger’s president in March 2025 under a transitional charter that set a five-year transition period.

The Ankara meetings were expected to explore additional steps to enhance cooperation between the two countries as Türkiye seeks to broaden its partnerships across the Sahel and the wider African continent.