U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrived in Niger on Thursday and was welcomed by the country's foreign minister Hassoumi Massoudou at Niamey airport. Blinken’s visit to Niger is the country’s first visit by a U.S. Secretary of State, according to a statement by Blinken's office. Following the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit held in Washington D.C. in December 2022, Blinken’s visit “is a recognition of our robust bilateral relationship with a key partner on democracy, governance, and regional security,” the statement added.