Niger’s PM embarks on international tour to diversify partners

Niger’s Prime Minister Lamine Zeine landed in Russia on Monday January 15, the first leg of an international tour to take him also to Iran, Turkey and Serbia as the West African country seeks to diversify partners after severing ties with former colonial power France.

Zeine is heading a high-key delegation including the ministers of Defense, Oil, Youth and Sports, Agriculture, Trade and Health.

The visit aims at exploring opportunities for cooperation in various fields, including defense, agriculture, energy, healthcare and oil.

Niger broke ties with France in the wake of a military coup that swept aside West-backed President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26 2023.

The authorities have forced France to pull out its forces stationed in the country in a sheer move that underlined the end of military cooperation between the two countries.