Newsletters
Niger's head of state Abdourahamane Tchiani made his first official visit outside Africa to Ankara on Thursday, where he met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Complex for bilateral talks that produced four formal agreements spanning higher education, trade, healthcare and diplomatic training.
The two leaders held one-on-one consultations followed by delegation-level talks before attending a signing ceremony and delivering a joint press conference.
The meetings covered defense industry cooperation, security, energy, mining, trade and investment, in addition to the formal agreements that were signed.
The higher education protocol, covering the 2026-2030 period, was signed by Council of Higher Education Chairman Prof. Dr. Erol Ozvar and Niger's Foreign Affairs Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare.
A joint communique establishing a Joint Economic and Trade Committee, known by its acronym JETCO, was signed by Trade Minister Omer Bolat and Niger's Trade and Industry Minister Abdoulaye Seydou.
A protocol on the joint operation and transfer of the Türkiye-Niger Friendship Hospital was signed by Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu and Niger's Health and Public Hygiene Minister Col. Dr. Garba Hakimi.
A memorandum of understanding between the Turkish Foreign Ministry's Diplomacy Academy and Niger's National Institute of Diplomatic and Strategic Studies was signed by Defense Minister Yasar Guler and Foreign Minister Sangare.
Speaking at the joint press conference, Erdogan said Türkiye views its relations with African nations as long-term partnerships built on "equal partnership, mutual respect and win-win principles," adding that the scope extends well beyond trade to include security, education, culture and transport.
He noted that ties between the two countries trace back to the 15th century and said they continue to deepen. Describing Niger as among Türkiye's closest friends on the continent, Erdogan said his country stands alongside Niger and other allies in their fight against groups that "create instability, particularly in the Sahel region."
Erdogan said the two sides had discussed closer cooperation in military training and intelligence, and expressed confidence that Niger's delegation would reach productive outcomes in meetings with leading Turkish defense industry firms.
He also highlighted the role of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency, known as TIKA, in supporting Niger's administrative and civilian infrastructure, including in irrigation, agriculture and livestock.
On education, Erdogan said the Türkiye Maarif Foundation operates 12 schools in the capital Niamey, educating more than 1,700 students. Nearly 500 Nigerien students are currently enrolled in Turkish universities, with some 300 of them in Türkiye.
"Turkish graduates serve as our ambassadors of goodwill," he said, "helping to strengthen the bonds between our peoples."
Tchiani said Erdogan's official visit to Niger on January 8, 2013, during his tenure as prime minister, marked the beginning of a new era in bilateral relations.
"That official visit was the start of a historic period for us," he said, and described subsequent Turkish support in defense, health, education and infrastructure as transformative.
The Nigerien leader said relations between the two countries have roots stretching back to the Ottoman era, citing the arrival of 450 people from Libya to Agadez in 1405 as an early link, and noting that formal diplomatic relations between the two republics were established in 1966.
Tchiani drew particular attention to the Türkiye-Niger Friendship Hospital, which he said serves the most vulnerable segments of Nigerien society, especially women, by providing access to modern medical care. He welcomed the newly signed protocol to expand the hospital's operations.
On defense, Tchiani said Niger's armed forces are now equipped with Turkish military vehicles and systems, which he credited with helping restore "calm and stability" amid the country's ongoing struggle against terrorism.
"You helped the people of Niger feel more secure and at peace," he said, addressing Erdogan directly. "Particularly, we can see that President Erdogan supports us. He is always by our side."
Tchiani expressed hope that the partnership could serve as a model, both for the African continent and for international cooperation more broadly.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
