Niger’s junta leader, Abdourahamane Tiani, has been sworn in as president for a five-year transition period under a newly established charter, further cementing military rule in the country.
- Abdourahamane Tiani sworn in as president of Niger for a five-year transition period under military rule.
- Tiani dissolved all political parties and tightened his grip on power.
- Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and withdrew from ECOWAS.
Niger’s junta leader, Abdourahamane Tiani, has been sworn in as president for a five-year transition period under a newly established charter, further cementing military rule in the country.
A former leader of the presidential guard, Tiani led the 2023 coup and has now been promoted to army general, Niger’s highest military rank. Following his inauguration, he signed a decree dissolving all political parties, tightening his grip on power.
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The transition timeline announced on Wednesday was in line with recommendations made in February by a commission following national discussions.
Initially, the junta had proposed a three-year transition, but this was rejected by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
In response to mounting political tensions, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso withdrew from ECOWAS and formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
This move effectively rebuffed ECOWAS’s efforts to accelerate a return to democratic rule following the coup.
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If the transition follows the outlined timeline, Tiani will have ruled for at least seven years by 2030, mirroring trends in other junta-led nations such as Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso.
Junta led countries find new alliances
Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso left ECOWAS in protest of economic sanctions aimed at pressuring their governments to restore civilian rule.
In addition to severing ties with the West, these military regimes have expelled French and other European forces, shifting their security alliances toward Russia as they continue to combat militant groups in the Sahel region.
