Coup leader Abdourahamane Tiani declares himself Niger head of state

Coup plotters in Niger declared General Abdourahamane Tiani as the new head of state on Friday, marking a significant shift in the country’s political landscape.

The coup leaders cited issues of bad governance and worsening security as their primary reasons for overthrowing President Mohamed Bazoum.

General Abdourahamane Tiani, who formerly headed the presidential guard, was instrumental in orchestrating the takeover. On Wednesday, the military surrounded the presidential palace effectively detaining President Bazoum and announcing his removal from power hours after.

Mr Tiani appeared on state television on Friday under the banner of the newly formed military council, the National Council for Safeguarding the Homeland (CNSP). A spokesperson for the council declared General Tiani as the head of state.

– Tiani seeks support

During the televised speech, Mr Tiani said he seized power due to worsening security situation in the country. “We cannot continue with the same approaches proposed so far, as it risks witnessing the gradual and inevitable disappearance of our nation,” he said.

He has called on “the technical and financial partners and friends of Niger to understand the specific situation of our country and provide all necessary support to help it overcome the challenges it faces”.

As part of the takeover, the constitution was suspended and other democratic institutions dissolved, indicating that the CNSP would wield both legislative and executive power.

The forceful and illegitimate change of government has drawn condemnation within and outside Africa. Regional bloc ECOWAS, Western powers and other international organizations including the AU and UN have demanded the release of Mr Bazoum and a restoration of constitutional order.

– Who is Tiani?

Sixty-two-year-old Tiani led the presidential guards since 2011. He is a native of Filigue, in the Nigerien region of Tillaberi, which borders Mali.

He served as head of a battalion in Agadez and led military operations in the Niger desert against contraband and drug traffickers.

He is a former military attache at Niger’s embassy in Germany and was the first officer on site when a French UTA flight crashed near Bilma in northern Niger in 1989, killing all 170 people on board, following a suitcase bomb explosion. He was decorated for having secured the crash site.