Algeria wants to reconcile with its Sahelian entourage. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Attaf, received yesterday in Algiers his Nigerien counterpart, Bakary Yaou Sangaré. “The two ministers spoke at length about the evaluation of cooperative relations between the two countries in different areas, notably the trans-Saharan road, about its role in opening up and development in the Sahel,” indicates Algerian diplomacy in a press release.
Attaf and Sangaré “reviewed the developments in the situation in the region, particularly the crisis in Niger, especially as the Nigerien minister praised the role of Algeria in supporting his country to emerge from the crisis current,” adds the same source.
These talks take place only three days after the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Niger in the meeting, held on Saturday, December 23 in Marrakech, devoted to the examination of the initiative launched on November 6 by King Mohammed VI on the access from Sahel countries to the Atlantic. A meeting was crowned by the adhesion of Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad to the royal project.
Relations between Algiers and Niamey are cold, particularly after the July 26 coup. The deposed president Mohamed Bazoum was considered close to the Algerian power. Since then, the differences between the two countries have come to light. In October, the new authorities in Niger made it clear that they did not accept the six-month transition proposed by Algerian mediation. “The government of the Republic of Niger rejects the said conclusions while reiterating its desire to preserve the ties of friendship and fraternity with Algeria,” Niamey clarified in a press release.
