Turkey strengthens its ties with Niger and advances its pawns in the Sahel
Nigerien Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine was received this Thursday, February 1, by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. While his country is in financial difficulty, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine wishes to diversify Niger's partners.
Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan. © Denes Erdos / AP
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With our correspondent in Istanbul,
Anne Andlauer
After Russia and Iran last month, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine continues his diplomatic tour. President Erdogan's Turkey, which last year was careful not to criticize the
coup d'état in Niger
too harshly , welcomes the wish of the new authorities in Niamey to continue to develop ties between the two countries. These links are already booming: trade tripled between 2021 and 2022, to $203 million.
This increase is driven by exports from the Turkish defense industry: Ankara had notably supplied armed drones to the ousted government, and is not opposed to new deliveries. During a visit last November to Niamey by the Turkish Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, the two countries said they were “
determined to strengthen their strategic partnership, particularly in the security and economic fields
”. The Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs and that of Defense were also present this Thursday during the meeting in Ankara between Lamine Zeine and Tayyip Erdogan.
Turkey is also favorable to the continuation of its development aid to Niger, described as “
one of the most important aspects
” of relations between the two countries. Niger is one of the top five beneficiaries of Turkey's aid in sub-Saharan Africa, with one and a half million dollars provided in 2021, according to the latest official figures.
■
“
Turkey is trying new strategies in this part of Africa where it is very present
”
Ankara is increasingly present in Africa. Several indications suggest that Turkey would like to seize the opportunity of the geopolitical change underway in the Sahel to increase its influence and lead a new diplomatic, military and economic offensive in this region. Interview with Jean Marcou, researcher in international relations at Sciences Po Grenoble.
02:34
Jean Marcou on Turkey's position vis-à-vis the Alliance of Sahel States
Houda Ibrahim
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