The leaders of Niger's coup announced General Abdourahamane Tiani as the new president of the country on Friday, stating that they have suspended the constitution and dissolved all previous institutions following the ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum. Tiani is the commander of the presidential guard who detained Bazoum in the presidential palace on Wednesday and subsequently announced his removal due to mismanagement and deteriorating security conditions.
The general appeared on official television today with a sign on the screen describing him as the head of the "National Council for the Protection of the Homeland," a military council recently formed. Abdourahamane warned of the consequences of any foreign military intervention, stating it would lead to massacres of the population and chaos. He defended the coup, indicating that the soldiers took action to protect national security. He affirmed that the soldiers seized power due to the deterioration of security.
Tiani criticized the lack of "real cooperation" with the military governments in Mali and Burkina Faso regarding countering insurgents. He stated, "The harsh reality of insecurity in Niger, which our defense forces and struggling populations face through killings, displacement, humiliation, and frustration, reminds us daily of this obvious fact." He added, "What sense does the security approach to combating terrorism that excludes any real cooperation with Burkina Faso and Mali make, given that we share the Liptako-Gourma region, where most of the terrorist groups we are fighting are concentrated?"
Tiani pointed out that the National Council for the Protection of the Homeland (the transitional council), which he now heads, will respect all commitments made to the international community. He requested that partners and friends of Niger understand the unique situation of the country and provide all necessary support to help it overcome the challenges it faces.
**United Nations**
UN officials revealed that the international organization continues to provide humanitarian assistance in Niger, but its officials there have not made any contact with the military following the coup in the West African nation. France stated that the coup is not "final," urging those responsible to restore Bazoum.
However, days after confusion regarding who was in charge, it seems Tiani and his camp have consolidated their power while announcing a series of decrees via state television.
**International Reactions**
No foreign countries have announced any plans to intervene in Niger, but Tiani warned against any attempts to rescue the detained President Bazoum, who has been with his family in the presidential palace since Wednesday morning. He stated that any foreign military intervention would lead to "massacres of the Nigerien population and chaos."
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will hold an emergency summit in Nigeria on Sunday to discuss the situation. Niger will serve as a test for the regional bloc, which is struggling to persuade soldiers to restore power to civilians following a recent wave of coups in member countries such as Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso. Both the European Union and the United States have already threatened to cut support to Niger, which primarily receives Western security assistance and is a key partner for the EU in containing irregular migration from sub-Saharan Africa.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stated that "any collapse of the constitutional order will have consequences for cooperation between the EU and Niger, including the immediate suspension of all budget support." U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris indicated that cooperation with the Nigerien government depends on "its continued commitment to democratic standards."
Germany, Italy, France, and the United States all have forces in Niger conducting military training and counterinsurgency missions. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius remarked that the situation remains unstable and that the priority is the safety of soldiers on the ground.
