Nigerien President Abdourahamane Tiani received a high-level delegation from Burkina Faso and Mali in the capital, Niamey, on Friday, September 18, as the two countries reaffirmed their support for Niger following a military mutiny and attempted destabilisation in late August.
The delegation included Burkina Faso’s Defence Minister General Célestin Simporé, Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré and Bassolma Bazié, who heads Burkina Faso’s national AES commission. Mali was represented by Defence Minister-delegate General Oumar Diarra and Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop.
The visit followed events in Niamey on August 28 and 29, when Nigerien authorities said a group of soldiers had attempted to destabilise the government. The Alliance of Sahel States which groups Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, said at the time that the mutiny had been contained by forces loyal to the authorities.
During Friday’s meeting, the Burkinabe and Malian delegation conveyed what it described as the solidarity of their governments and populations with Niger. The delegation also expressed condolences to the families of members of Niger’s security forces who were killed during the unrest.
The delegation’s leader said the attempt had been halted with the support of loyalist forces and argued that the episode demonstrated the need for greater cohesion within the AES. Niger’s government has continued investigations into the August events, while authorities have reported arrests linked to the mutiny.
Tiani thanked the delegation and asked its members to convey his greetings to the leaders of Burkina Faso and Mali. The meeting was also attended by Niger’s Defence Minister Salifou Mody, Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangaré and other senior officials. The delegation later met Nigerien Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine.
