Niger Prime Minister Visits Algeria As Both Countries Strengthen Diplomatic Relations

The Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Niger, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, is on an official visit to Algeria as both countries move to strengthen diplomatic relations.

According to a statement from the Algerian Prime Minister’s office, Zeine arrived in the North African country on Sunday evening. He was welcomed at the Houari-Boumediene International Airport by Prime Minister Nadir Larbaoui, who was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Attaf, the Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, the Minister of Trade and Export Promotion, Tayeb Zitouni, and the Secretary General of the Ministry of National Defense, Major General Mohamed Salah Benbicha.

The visit proves both countries’ commitment to strengthening diplomatic ties and overcoming a diplomatic crisis that occurred in October 2023 between them. This is the second visit by a senior government official from Niger to Algeria after the visit of Nigerien Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangaré in December 2023.

Earlier this month, a delegation of the Algerian government headed by Energy Minister Mohamed Arkab visited Niamey and pledged that the Algerian hydrocarbons company would resume oil and gas exploration activities in the Kafra region in northern Niger, cooperate in the energy sector, and implement the Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline project linking Nigeria, Niger, and Algeria.

Last May, Niger asked Algeria to help secure trade routes between the two countries amid the increasing terrorism attacks in northern Niger. Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune also ordered the government to strengthen the “barter” trade system with Niger, which relies on the exchange of goods without financial transactions.

The visit of the Nigerien Prime Minister to Algeria boosts diplomatic relations between the two countries. Niger is ostracised by its West African neighbours following sanctions imposed on it by ECOWAS after the coup against President Mohamed Bazoum in August 2023.

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Oluwatobi Odeyinka

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