Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Dr. Badr Abdel-Atty, has paid an official visit to Niamey, Niger Republic, where he was warmly received by his Nigerien counterpart, Mr. Bakary Yaou Sangaré. The visit is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between both African nations.
The high-level diplomatic engagement follows a previous meeting between the two foreign ministers in October 2024, when Minister Sangaré visited Cairo. That visit marked the beginning of a renewed partnership between Egypt and Niger, with a focus on building a long-term relationship based on mutual trust, history, and shared development goals.
During this latest meeting, both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to working closely together to promote peace, security, and socio-economic development in Africa. They agreed that the challenges facing the continent, especially in the areas of terrorism, economic inequality, and education, require joint solutions through collaboration and exchange of expertise.
Dr. Abdel-Atty, who spoke on Egypt’s experience in fighting terrorism, said that the fight against violent extremism must go beyond military action. He noted that development, education, and economic opportunity are equally important in preventing young people from being lured into terrorist groups. He also offered Egypt’s support in helping Niger build capacity in areas such as security strategy, border control, and intelligence sharing.
The discussions also touched on the importance of trade and economic ties. Both countries expressed readiness to work on enhancing trade partnerships and investment opportunities, especially in sectors like agriculture, energy, and education. According to diplomatic sources, Egypt has shown interest in collaborating with Niger to boost food security and agricultural processing through knowledge-sharing and technical assistance.
The highlight of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Egypt and Niger. The MoU establishes a political consultation mechanism, which will allow both foreign ministries to engage in regular dialogue and coordinated action on regional and global issues of mutual interest. This platform is expected to strengthen diplomatic relations and promote African unity and integration.
The Nigerien Foreign Minister, Bakary Yaou Sangaré, praised Egypt’s continued leadership role on the continent and expressed his government’s enthusiasm for deeper cooperation. He said that the two countries have much to gain from regular political consultations and pledged to keep the lines of communication open for future partnerships in health, infrastructure, and education.
Both ministers also pledged support for the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and called for greater African solidarity in addressing regional conflicts, climate change, and irregular migration. They agreed that African countries must take the lead in shaping the continent’s future by building strong institutions and promoting intra-African trade.
Observers say the visit signals a new chapter in Egypt-Niger relations, which had slowed in recent years due to political transitions and regional instability. However, with the formalisation of diplomatic dialogue through the new consultation mechanism, both governments are now positioning themselves to play stronger roles in West and North African cooperation.
Dr. Badr Abdel-Atty’s visit ended with a joint press briefing in Niamey, where both foreign ministers described the meeting as “productive, forward-looking, and necessary for regional peace.” They also expressed hope that the new partnership would inspire similar collaborations across the African continent.
The next round of political consultations between Egypt and Niger is expected to take place in Cairo later in 2025, as both sides work to transform their shared vision into measurable progress.
