Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani has proclaimed himself the new ruler of Niger, following a dramatic coup.
He staged a coup that began on Wednesday when the presidential guards unit he oversaw seized the country’s leader.
Since gaining independence in 1960, this shatters the country’s first peaceful and democratic transition.
Though still in captivity by his own guards, President Mohamed Bazoum is believed to be in good health.
International organizations like the African Union, the West African regional bloc (Ecowas), the EU, and the UN have all strongly condemned the coup.
However, it has been reported that the mercenary group’s leader in Russia, Wagner, praised the coup and called it a victory.
Yevgeny Prigozhin was quoted as saying on a Telegram channel affiliated to Wagner that “what happened in Niger is nothing other than the struggle of the people of Niger with their colonizers.”.
The BBC was unable to confirm the veracity of the reported comments he made.
Former President Mahamadou Issoufou promoted Gen. Tchiani, 62, to the rank of general in 2018. He has been in charge of the presidential guard since 2011.
A coup attempt against the former president was also linked to him in 2015; however, he appeared in court to deny this.
Gen. Tchiani claimed in a televised speech that the reasons his junta took power in Niger because of several problems in Niger, including insecurity, economic woes and corruption.
The takeover in Niger is the most recent in a string of coups that have shaken up governments in West African nations recently, including Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso.
Source-BBC
