Niger’s prime minister names Türkiye among Niamey’s “true friends” at UN

Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine told the UN General Assembly that Togo, Türkiye, Morocco, Russia and China are among Niger’s “true friends” and expressed his country’s gratitude to them on behalf of the president.

Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine named Togo, Türkiye, Morocco, the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China as his country’s “true friends” in his address to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. “I would like to express our deepest gratitude to them on behalf of our president,” he said, reaffirming Niger’s sovereign right to choose its partners.

Zeine accused France of leading efforts to destabilize the Sahel with Ukraine’s “active complicity” and said the region’s resources must now benefit its own people. “For more than half a century, Niger’s uranium has lit the cities of Europe while our cities have remained in darkness. That injustice is now over,” he said.

He also gave special thanks to neighboring Algeria, citing its investments in Niger’s natural resources and support in defense, health, education, energy and agriculture. Niger has been ruled by a military government led by Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani since July 2023.