Niger's Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine kicked off regional consultations in the northern city of Agadez, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders to discuss various issues, including the length of the transition period for the coup leaders who took power in late July, media reported.
One of the key issues discussed during the talks, according to reports, was the involvement of foreign companies in uranium development, particularly the French company Orano. The presence of the US military base in Niger was also a concern, the media added.
The talks also delved on issues related to illegal immigration, as Agadez is a major transit point for migrants heading to Europe. Security concerns in the region, in particular the presence of artisanal gold mines, were also emphasized.
The consultations, which the prime minister said would take place in eight regions of the country, included elected officials, traditional chiefs, ex-combatants, youth organizations, trade unions and NGOs.
The national dialogue was originally scheduled to take place in September, but was postponed because of the "hostile" presence of some 2,000 French military troops in the country, Tiani said in December.
On December 22, the last French troops stationed in Niger left the country at the request of the new Nigerien leaders. The July 26 military coup in Niger was followed by massive anti-French protests, demonstrating the local population's rejection of the former colonial master and demanding the withdrawal of its troops.
In addition to the troop withdrawal, which Paris completed at the end of 2023, Niger secured the expulsion of the French ambassador to the West African country, Sylvain Itte, and ended cooperation with the International Organization of Francophone Nations.