Madar (Niamey) - Mali's transitional president, General Assimi Goita, arrived in Niamey on Thursday, November 5, 2026, where he was welcomed by his Nigerien counterpart, General Abdourahamane Tiani, at Diori Hamani International Airport, according to the Niger Press Agency (ANP).
Goita arrived at around 1 pm local time. The two leaders listened to the national anthems and reviewed the troops, then held brief talks in the airport's presidential lounge before heading to the presidential palace for a working session, ANP said.
Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, members of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland and of the government, Niamey's regional and municipal authorities, diplomats and traditional and religious leaders were present, according to Niger's state daily "Le Sahel", which reported a popular welcome along the motorcade route with cultural troupes and members of the Malian community.
According to ANP, the visit "will take the Malian leader to Burkina Faso the same day" and is part of efforts to strengthen ties between members of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), with security, economic and strategic issues as its main focus.
Burkina Faso's presidency had announced a working and friendship visit by Goita to Ouagadougou on Thursday. The AES, which groups Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, was created in Niamey in July 2024, following the Liptako-Gourma charter signed in September 2023.
