Mali’s transitional president, Army General Assimi Goïta, arrived in Niamey on Thursday for an official visit of friendship and work to Niger, according to the Nigerien Press Agency (ANP).

The trip is the first leg of a journey that is also to take him to Burkina Faso.

Goïta was received at Diori Hamani International Airport by his Nigerien counterpart, Army General Abdourahamane Tiani.

The Prime Minister, members of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), the government and several civilian and military officials were present at the welcome.

After military honours and a brief meeting at the airport, the two leaders travelled to the presidential palace, where a large crowd waved the flags of Niger, Mali and the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

One-on-one talks and a working session between the delegations of the two countries are planned during the visit, the ANP reported.

From Niamey, Goïta is scheduled to continue to Ouagadougou to meet his Burkinabè counterpart, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

---

Source: amap

By kader Maiga · originally published by amap