Earlier this week a military junta in Niger, a former French colony, overthrew the country’s president and installed itself as a temporary governing council. Now the general who led the coup has been officially appointed as the leader of that council (for more information, see this English-language report from Reuters).

Many thanks to Gary Fouse for translating this article from the French-language news site ActuNiger:

Official: General A. Tchiani appointed president of CNSP, the military junta that overthrew Bazoum

July 28, 2023

Three days after announcing the dismissal of President Bazoum Mohamed, the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP) appointed General Abdourahmane Tchiani, Friday July 28, 2023 as chief of the military junta now in command of Niger. Until then the head of the presidential guard, a post he had occupied since 2011, the new strongman of the country immediately addressed the nation in a message to explain the reasons the defense and security forces (FDS) again intervened in the country’s political scene to put an end to the normal democratic process and infringed on the constitutional order.

In the message to the nation that he addressed Friday around noon (Niamey time), the head of the junta recounted the principal reasons that motivated the defense and security forces (FDS) to “assume their responsibilities”. It was, as had been previously announced by the spokesperson of the CNSP during the declaration of the seizure of power on Wednesday, 26 July, about “the degradation of the security situation” as well as “poor political, economic, and social governance.”

It is particularly the management of security that pushed the junta to take power, and according to the explanations of General Abdourahmane on this issue, called into question ‘the political discourse” of the government that denied, according to him, “the hard reality with its share of deaths, displacements, humiliation, and frustration,” and this, he added, in spite the calls for order from the military heads. The former head of the presidential guard, among other things, denounced certain decisions taken by the former regime, notably, “the freeing of armed terrorist leaders’ as well as “the absence of coordination” with Mali and Burkina, neighboring countries of Niger, which, according to him, face the same security threats.

According to the president of the CNSP, “the current security approach did not allow the securing of the country in spite of heavy sacrifices by Nigeriens and the appreciable support of our exterior partners.” And for General Abdourahmane, it is out of the question “to continue with the same approach, the same actors, and the same results.”

In his speech, the new strongman of the country reaffirmed the will of the CNSP “to respect all its international commitments.” In addition, he continued, “The council, through my voice, asks of partners and friends of Niger, in this crucial stage in the life of our country, to trust our defense and security forces, guarantors of national unity, territorial integrity and the greater interests of our nation.”

It must be noted that before this initial speech by the now-chief of state of Niger, the members of the junta gathered and posed for the first official photo in which we recognize well-known figures, notably Division General Salifou Modi, ex-chief of the army, or the very well known Colonel-Major Djibrilla Himadou, current president of the Nigerien Football Federation (Fédération Nigérienne de Football, FENIFOOT). These two superior officers of the Nigerien army took part in previous coups in 2010 (CSRD by General Salou Djibo), 1999 (CRN by Commandant Mallam Wanke), as well as that of 1996 (CSN by General Ibrahim Bare Mainassara).