KEY POINTS
- Deby met Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf in N’Djamena on Tuesday.
- Talks focused on carrying out deals signed during Deby’s visit to Algiers.
- Mali’s military leader is expected to visit Algeria in the coming weeks.
Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno met Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf on Tuesday at the presidential palace in N’Djamena, Africanews reported. The visit comes as observers say Algeria is working to rebuild its Sahel influence.
The two discussed strengthening bilateral ties and implementing cooperation agreements signed during Deby’s visit to Algiers last year.
Sahel influence push follows Niger deployment
The talks also came just days after Algeria deployed troops to Niger, a move observers see as part of the same effort to regain ground in the region. Chad and Niger share a border.
Speaking after the meeting, Attaf said the Sahel-Saharan region faces common challenges of development, security and stability. He added that Chadians and Algerians share the same aim: to “enable our region to harness its potential” for prosperity and development.
Meanwhile, Mali’s military leader, Gen. Assimi Goita, is expected to visit Algeria in the coming weeks. The two countries’ prime ministers have already exchanged visits to Algiers and Bamako.
