The military ruler of Niger has been sworn in as president of the country for five years.
General Abdourahamane Tchiani has removed Niger’s president-elect Mohamed Bazoum since 2023.
Niger has been plagued by jihad attacks for years – one of the issues cited by government leaders when launching a coup. Military takeover follows others in the region – neighboring Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso are also run by Juntas.
All four countries have disconnected from former colonial power France and have established new alliances with all countries outside Russia and Guinea, which have withdrawn from the West African regional group Ecowas.
On Wednesday, March 26, General Tchiani took the presidential office to occupy a new charter that replaced the country’s constitution.
He was also promoted to the country’s highest military army general and signed a decree requiring all parties to be dissolved.
General Tiani talked about his new military phase at a ceremony in the capital: “I have obtained this distinction with great humility…I will strive to achieve my trust in me.”
The transition to democratic rule is in line with the recommendations made by the National Post-Discussion Committee.
The new charter says this five-year period is “flexible” depending on the security situation in the country.
Niger’s relationship with Ecowas collapsed when the military government proposed a transition period directly to the three-year transition period of democratic rule after the coup. ECOWAS called the plan a “provocation” and threatened to intervene in the use of force before withdrawing it.
Tchiani Gen’s administration is prosecuting former President Bazoum for allegations of high treason and undermining national security. Bazum is still being held in the presidential palace with his wife, while his son was temporarily released last January.
