Niamey has taken the lead in a sweeping diplomatic consultation initiated by the United Nations. During a meeting on Monday with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, Sahle-Work Zewde, Niger’s transitional leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, positioned the country at the heart of an initiative set to reshape the actions of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS). The envoy’s itinerary includes stops in both Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member states and those within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).