Military-led Burkina Faso’s president landed in Niger on Friday afternoon for the first summit between leaders of a new Sahel bloc on Saturday, an AFP journalist observed.
Ibrahim Traore was welcomed at Niamey international airport by Abdourahamane Tiani, leader of the Nigerien military regime that overthrew civilian president Mohamed Bazoum almost a year ago.
Tiani will also host Malian Colonel Assimi Goita, who is arriving on Saturday morning for the summit.
The Burkinabe presidency said “the fight against terrorism” and the “consolidation of cooperation” will be on Saturday’s agenda, given the deadly jihadist violence the three countries face.
Many of Niamey’s residents lined the official route to cheer the Burkinabe captain, waving flags of the three countries.
