Mali's Assimi Goïta Visits Niger's Niamey, Focuses on Security and Economy

On Thursday, November 5, 2026, Mali's President of the Transition, General Assimi Goïta, made an official visit to Niamey, Niger, at the invitation of Niger's President Abdourahamane Tiani. The visit, which lasted a few hours, was marked by a warm welcome from President Tiani, Prime Minister, members of the Conseil national pour la sauvegarde de la patrie (CNSP), government officials, and high-ranking military personnel.

The two leaders held a tête-à-tête meeting, followed by a working session with their delegations. They discussed the security situation in the Sahel region and efforts to combat terrorism. According to a joint communiqué read by Niger's Foreign Minister, Bakary Yaou Sangaré, the leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the Unified Force of the Sahel States (AES) in the fight against terrorism.

The joint communiqué also highlighted the two leaders' commitment to strengthening the AES and their condemnation of attempts to destabilize the Sahel States, allegedly carried out by mercenaries and their foreign sponsors. The leaders paid tribute to military personnel and civilians who have lost their lives in the fight against terrorism and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.

In addition to security, the two leaders discussed economic issues, including the free movement of persons and goods, transportation infrastructure, agro-industrial development, and energy resource exploitation. They welcomed ongoing efforts to harmonize policies in these areas, which are expected to improve the lives of citizens in the Sahel region.

The AES was established in September 2023 with the signing of the Liptako-Gourma charter by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. In July 2024, the three countries took a further step by forming the Sahel States Confederation. The confederation aims to promote cooperation in defense, security, diplomacy, and development among its member states.

During his visit, President Goïta invited President Tiani to make an official visit to Mali, which was accepted. The date of the visit will be determined through diplomatic channels. The Nigerien presidency announced that the full text of the joint communiqué will be published soon.

President Goïta's visit to Niamey was part of a regional tour that will also take him to Burkina Faso, the third member of the Sahel States Confederation. The visit demonstrated the strong ties between the leaders of the Sahel States and their commitment to cooperation in the face of security and economic challenges.

Key points

• The visit highlighted the progress made by the Unified Force of the Sahel States in the fight against terrorism.
• The leaders discussed economic issues, including the free movement of persons and goods, and energy resource exploitation.
• President Tiani accepted an invitation to make an official visit to Mali.