Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani has officially taken office as Niger’s transitional president for a five-year period. His inauguration ceremony was held in the capital, Niamey, where he assumed leadership under a newly adopted charter that replaces the country’s constitution.
Tchiani has been in power since 2023 after deposing the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum. Following his swearing-in, he signed a decree dissolving all political parties and was also promoted to the highest military rank of army general. Speaking at the event, he described the promotion as an honor he would uphold with humility.
The transition period has been set for five years, though the new charter allows flexibility depending on the country’s security situation.
Niger has faced persistent jihadist attacks, which the military cited as a primary justification for taking control. The country’s political landscape has undergone significant changes since the coup, with the junta aligning itself with other military-led nations in the region.
Niger, along with Mali and Burkina Faso, has severed ties with its former colonial ruler, France, and established new alliances with Russia. These three nations, along with Guinea, are now under military rule.
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Additionally, all except Guinea have withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States, Ecowas, after tensions escalated over the proposed transition timeline.
Relations between Niger and Ecowas deteriorated after the junta initially suggested a three-year transition period to civilian rule, a proposal the regional bloc rejected as unacceptable. Ecowas had previously threatened military intervention but later backed down, opting for diplomatic engagement instead.
Meanwhile, the former president remains under detention at the presidential palace with his wife, while their son was granted provisional release in January. Tchiani’s administration is prosecuting Bazoum on charges of high treason and undermining national security, intensifying the political divide in the country.
During his inaugural speech, Tchiani emphasized that Niger’s new charter upholds key constitutional principles while introducing measures to safeguard the nation’s natural resources. His administration aims to ensure that the country’s wealth is harnessed for the benefit of its citizens, a promise that will be closely watched in the coming years.
Reported by BBC
