Coup Architect Proclaims Self as Niger’s New Leader
Following a dramatic coup, General Abdourahmane Tchiani has announced that he will now serve as the leader of Niger.
He is also known by the name Omar Tchiani, and he orchestrated a coup that began on Wednesday when the presidential guards unit that he directed captured the leader of the country.
This throws into disarray Niger’s first democratic and peaceful political transition since the country gained its independence in 1960.
It is believed that President Mohamed Bazoum is in good health, even though he is still being held captive by his guards.
International organizations such as the African Union, the West African regional bloc known as Ecowas, the European Union, and the United Nations have all expressed their disapproval of the coup.
On the other hand, the chief of Russia’s Wagner mercenary force is said to have lauded the coup and declared it a success, according to reports.
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Yevgeny Prigozhin was cited on a Wagner-affiliated Telegram channel as claiming that “what happened in Niger is nothing other than the struggle of the people of Niger with their colonizers.” Prigozhin’s comments were made about the conflict in Niger.
According to reports, he made certain statements, but the BBC has not been able to confirm their veracity.
Gen. Tchiani, who is 62 years old and currently serves as the commander of the Presidential Guard, was given a promotion to the rank of general in 2018 by the previous President of Burkina Faso, Mahamadou Issoufou.
A coup attempt against the former president in 2015 had been attributed to him, but he denied any involvement in the plot when he appeared in court.
Gen. Tchiani stated in a televised broadcast that the reason his junta took control of Niger was due to the country’s myriad of problems, which included, among other things, a lack of safety, economic difficulties, and corrupt officials.
The recent military takeover in Niger is the most recent in a string of coups that have rocked the West African area in recent years, bringing down governments in nations such as Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso, amongst others.
Coup Architect Proclaims Self as Niger’s New Leader
