Niger Coup Leader Tchiani Sworn in as President for Five-Year Transitional Period

General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the leader of Niger’s military junta, has been sworn in as the country’s president for a five-year transitional period, following his coup against the elected government of President Mohamed Bazoum in 2023.

Tchiani, who has held power since the coup, took the presidential oath of office on Wednesday, marking a new chapter under a revised charter that replaces Niger’s previous constitution. The ceremony took place in the capital, Niamey, where Tchiani was also promoted to the highest military rank in the country, Army General.

In his speech, Tchiani addressed his new rank, saying, “I receive this distinction with great humility… I will strive to live up to the trust placed in me.” He also signed a decree dissolving all political parties in the country, signaling a move towards consolidating military control.

The transitional period outlined in the new charter is flexible, with the five-year timeframe contingent on the country’s security situation. Niger has faced persistent jihadist attacks, which were cited as one of the reasons behind the junta’s decision to overthrow the elected government in June 2023.

This military takeover in Niger is part of a broader trend in West Africa, where a number of countries, including Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso, have experienced similar coups. All four nations have severed ties with France, their former colonial power, and have sought to form new alliances, particularly with Russia.

Except for Guinea, all these countries have also withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), following sanctions and pressure from the regional bloc to restore democratic rule.