Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with Niger's leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, in Niamey on Wednesday and delivered a written message from President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi aimed at strengthening security and economic ties, Egypt's foreign ministry said. In a statement, the ministry said Abdelatty's visit came as part of a push to enhance cooperation, with the minister conveying Sisi's greetings and stressing that the trip was aimed at supporting Niger based on the historical ties between the two nations. Abdelatty highlighted the strategic importance of Niger's stability for Egypt's national security, describing the Sahel region as a "natural extension of Egypt's strategic neighbourhood." He said that growing terrorist threats and the spread of armed groups across the continent necessitated enhanced security cooperation and the exchange of expertise between Egypt and Niger. The talks also focused on expanding economic partnerships. The foreign minister noted that he was accompanied by a high-level delegation of 30 Egyptian business leaders to participate in the first Egyptian-Nigerien Business Forum. The forum aims to boost economic, trade, and investment cooperation, particularly in the energy, infrastructure, construction, and mining sectors. The statement said the discussions covered existing cooperation in combating terrorism and extremist ideology. Abdelatty highlighted the role of Cairo-based institutions, including Al-Azhar, which provides training for Nigerian imams and scholarships for students, as well as the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution and the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development (EAPD), which offer capacity-building programmes for Nigerian personnel. For his part, President Tchiani asked Abdelatty to convey his greetings and appreciation to President Sisi, expressing his country's gratitude for Egypt's support in facing its security and development challenges. He also praised Egypt's leading regional and international role and the support provided by Al-Azhar in religious education. The two officials also discussed regional issues, including developments in the Sahel and West Africa and the security challenges posed by the spread of terrorist organisations.
