Realignment in the Sahel: Turkey and Niger forge closer ties

Turkey and Niger have agreed to enhance cooperation in energy, mining, intelligence, and defence, after a visit by senior Turkish officials to Niamey, the Nigerian capital, Reuters reports. The warming relations come in the wake of Niger’s expulsion of Western military personnel and the termination of Western mining contracts and marks a significant realignment in Niger’s foreign policy. 

A high-level Turkish delegation, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Guler, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, visited Niamey this week to cement these ties. They met with General Abdourahmane Tiani, Niger's de facto leader since the military ousted President Mohamed Bazoum last July. 

The visit follows a meeting earlier this year between Niger’s Prime Minister and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara. During this week’s discussions, officials from both nations focused on enhancing defence and military training cooperation.  

Additionally, a declaration was signed to support Turkish firms in developing Niger’s oil and natural gas fields. Despite Niger's significant uranium resources, Turkey’s is not seeking to buy uranium from Niger for its first nuclear power plant being built by Russia’s Rosatom, a Turkish diplomatic source told Reuters.