He is accompanied by Defence Minister Salihou Mody as well as Niger's ministers of petroleum and trade.

Paris-based news website Mondafrique reported that Mr Zeine would also visit Turkey, Iran and Serbia.

Niger’s military junta, which is under tough sanctions from its West African neighbours, is seeking to “diversify its partnerships”, Mondafrique reported.

The website said the junta has made clear its intention to free itself of Western influence, beginning with the severing of military ties with France.