The Secretary-General met today with H.E. Ms. Aïchatou Kané Boulama, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Niger. The Secretary-General commended President Issoufou on Niger’s contribution to regional efforts to tackle the threat of Boko Haram. They shared views on the situation in Mali and the need for all signatories of the Accord for Peace and Reconciliation to fully respect their obligations. The Secretary-General commended Niger on its Economic and Social Development Plan 2016-2020 and its Vision 2035. He encouraged the Government to align these processes with the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Secretary-General expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in the southeast of Niger and commended the support provided by Niger to refugees/returnees. The two leaders noted that Niger was particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and that the country is feeling the impact of decreased donor support. They also discussed regional security concerns, including the current situation in Libya. The Secretary-General informed on recent developments in the UN-facilitated political dialogue process in Libya. They also exchanged views on the internal political situation in Niger, including the preparation for the general elections, scheduled to take place in 2016.