Niamey hosts 4th Niger Cultural Industries Fair and AES ministerial meeting

The 4th edition of the Niger Cultural Industries Fair (FICNI) opened on September 14, 2026, in Niamey. The event is held in conjunction with a meeting of the Culture Ministers from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which includes Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

Presided over by Niger’s Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Colonel-Major Abdourahamane Amadou, the fair aims to use creative industries as a strategic tool for regional integration and economic sovereignty. The program features exhibitions and workshops covering various sectors, including literature, fashion, design, cinema, audiovisual arts, music, and handicrafts.

Malian Minister Mamou Daffé emphasized that cultural creation should serve as a source of employment and value addition for Sahelian youth. The gathering also serves to evaluate the progress of the AES common cultural policy action plan adopted in February 2025.